Lake Wales Minister Hopes Youth Center Will Help End the Violence

Bobby Banks of the Lake Wales Bible Church of God oversees construction of a new youth center that he hopes will give the community's young people a place to go and help stop the recent violence. Banks said community members and businesses are getting involved.

LAKE WALES | After 10 reported shooting incidents since November, a Lake Wales minister said he hopes building a youth center will help end the violence.

Bobby Banks of Lake Wales Bible Church of God said he wants to give young people in the community a place with a positive atmosphere where they can learn, get active and develop skills.

"The Lord led me to build this youth center along with the people of the church," Banks said. "We see the condition of our neighborhood; we see the condition of our young people. They've got so much promise in their lives, so much talent. If they don't have a place where it can be developed, all their talents and gifts will be wasted."

This is the first youth center built in Lake Wales and the Bible Church of God is not doing it alone. Community members and business owners are getting involved, too.

"We have people in the city who are excited and believe in what we are doing," Banks said.

Calvin Marion, owner of CLM Learning Solutions in Lake Wales, an ACT/SAT preparation service, is one of those who is helping. He said that in the wake of the recent shootings, Lake Wales needs the youth center.

"This stuff is happening because youth aren't engaged," he said. "With this center, youth will be engaged."

Deputy Chief Troy Schulze of the Lake Wales Police Department said he is in favor of any project that gives the young people a safe place to go and keeps them off the street.

The youth center will target college-age and younger people and take a different, more accepting, approach to educating them on how to be successful in a professional setting, Marion said.

Link:
Lake Wales Minister Hopes Youth Center Will Help End the Violence