Melody King urges more teen spaces after Tallahassee violence
Tallahassee senior Melody King said many teens feel overlooked and want more to do outside school as community leaders look for ways to respond to recent violence. Leaders said the answer starts with listening to young people and building activities and support systems around their feedback.
King said the city puts too much attention on college students, the state buildings and politics while many young people are looking for teen-focused options. She said she would like to see organized events such as karaoke or movie night.
Melody King and Tallahassee teens
King, a Tallahassee Collegiate Academy senior, said a lack of options can leave some young people searching for a place to belong. She also said that many teenagers feel overlooked in Tallahassee and that more spaces designed for them could change that.
“I think that the Tallahassee community is really focused on college students and the state buildings and politics and things like that, while there's a huge group of young people who are looking for things to do outside of school,” King said.
Her comments placed the youth perspective at the center of a discussion that community leaders said is not only about enforcement. They said preventing violence also means creating programs that make young people feel connected and supported.
Larry Harper on ownership
FSU alum Larry Harper said entrepreneurship and business can give young people ownership and purpose. He said young people who are focused on building a business or pursuing a goal are less likely to make decisions that could jeopardize their future.
“I think entrepreneurship, business is probably the perfect way. I think a lot of people have great ideas, and what they need to do is understand that system of how to turn that idea and manifest it in reality,” Harper said.
He added that once young people are deep into building something of their own, they do not have time “to kind of goof off,” because they are starting to understand how harmful bad choices can be to what they are trying to become and what they are building.
Youth feedback in Tallahassee
The report described recent violence in Tallahassee as the backdrop for the discussion, but the responses from King and Harper focused on what comes next for teenagers who say they need more support. Their comments point to a practical shift: more teen-centered events, more places to gather, and more programs that give youth a reason to invest in their own plans.
King said youth need to hear, “Hey, there's other things for you. There are opportunities, things you can succeed in, and you can help others. Be a light in your community,” a message leaders said they want to turn into action through better activities and support systems.
