In Saint Paul, too many of our young people are touched by gun violence at an early age — sometimes as teenagers. One reason for that tragic fact: most kids in our City just don’t have specific opportunities to learn about violence prevention, personal safety, and goal-setting. To help provide that missing education, Neighborhood Safety Community Council manager Lynnaia Jacobsen and commission members developed Goals Not Guns, Saint Paul’s own curriculum to promote goal-focused aspirations, violence prevention, community, and healthy behaviors.
As part of the program, youth get to tap into their creativity by developing a slogan or logo that reflects goal-focused, anti-violence themes. Their designs are printed on T-shirts and champion their commitment to safety. Through a partnership between the NSCC and Elpis Enterprises, young people print the winning designs on T-shirts that start brave conversations about safety in their communities.
For October, in observance of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, we expanded the program to include Rec Check participants at the Frogtown, Martin Luther King, and West Minnehaha community centers. Here Mayor Carter models the winning designs from students in all three groups:
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Grab your own Goals Not Guns shirt and support the young creators behind these powerful messages. Designs are available for a limited time and only while supplies last — don’t miss your chance to invest in Saint Paul youth.
If you miss your chance to buy a shirt this time, you’re not out of luck. In November, St. Paul City School asked us to bring the Goals Not Guns program back to their students for the second year — and the winning design from this next group will go on sale in mid-December.
To end the year on a note of joy, we are planning a celebratory assembly where Mayor Carter will recognize all participating Goals Not Guns students for their involvement and aspirations. We can’t wait to celebrate!