INDIANAPOLIS Fifteen-year-old Ajari Starks and 17-year-old Brandon Coleman are among young people on the citys east side taking part in a new effort to curb teen gun violence.

Starks, who tells WRTV he has been in trouble with the law before, says he wants to be a part of the solution now.

I stole a car, allegedly, because I feel like nobody was there for me, Ajari Starks said.

People end up in like dangerous predicaments with their life, stuff like that, Brandon Coleman said.

The Youth Violence Reduction Initiative launched in September with a $150,000 grant from the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.

The goal program leaders say is to create intensive outreach, mentoring and family services for people ages 13-22, for those who are at high risk of involvement in gun viol

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