In 2014, Lexington witnessed a rise in shootings, several in city parks and public spaces. Residents voiced their fear that neighborhood parks were unsafe and young people were at risk of becoming victims. This increase in violence, coupled with national coverage of the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, led city and community leaders to begin asking what they could do to stop the trend. The library’s goal was to facilitate community discussion and engagement on the issue of race relations and violence in Lexington.

Our summit was geared towards teens, as Magoon’s book is written for that audience, and many of the recent homicide victims in the city were young people. We created book clubs at schools and community centers to get the word out, and we recruited community and city leaders to participate in a panel discussion. Teens submitted the questions that our panel addressed, with topics ranging from how to deal with racism to how to put an end to violence in the city. The summit finished with an art project that allowed teens to express their feelings on canvas.

We had a diverse audience in attendance, including many civic leaders and community organizers. The panel discussion featured a lively debate about the most pressing needs of our community and how to best address the rise in gun violence in Lexington. The panelists also discussed their personal experiences with racism and gender discrimination and how teens can address these issues in their own lives. The event was covered by local television news and radio stations. Afterward, many audience members commented on the need for more events like this in the future.