The mayors of Hampton and Newport News made a joint call for men to step up as mentors for Black middle-school-aged boys.
Mayors Donnie Tuck and Phil Jones held a joint press conference making that call to action at Crittenden Middle School in Newport News Thursday.
The two want to keep youth violence on the Peninsula trending down – especially among Black boys. They think mentorship, positive interactions with adults and healthy male role models can make that happen.
“Unfortunately, the fact remains that many of our young Black boys and father-absent families have no male role models unless they are involved in athletics,” Tuck said.
Black communities are disproportionately affected by gun violence. According to data from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, nearly 23 times more Black men aged 18 to 24 died from gun violence than white men that age do.
Tuck and Jones noted their cities made strides in 2024. Violent crime is down on the Peninsula and nationally. Hampton Police Chief Jimmie Wideman reported a 70% decrease in homicides in Hampton for the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. And Jones announced in July there was a 55% decrease in homicides in Newport News when compared to the halfway point of 2023.
But for him, it’s just a start. He called on men in the community to get involved in helping sustain that trend locally.
“Your involvement can provide these youths with the support and guidance they’re going to need to prosper,” Jones said. “It’s going to take all of us in this room to shape a brighter future for these young men in our communities.”
Jones and Tuck began discussing the need for mentors in early summer. Combined with an acknowledgement of greater prevalence of gun violence deaths among Black teens and young adults, the two decided to home in on efforts at the middle school level.
Tuck quoted Wilford Taylor, Hampton’s first Black full-time judge, saying “the last opportunity you really have to change the trajectory of a young person’s life is in middle school.”
While the focus is on Black kids, Jones said they're extending their call to people of all backgrounds. A “servant’s heart” and a willingness to put in time with mentees is all that’s needed to get involved, he said.
Lisa Surles-Law, chair of the Newport News School Board, echoed that sentiment.
“It is crucial that we have everyone involved in this effort,” she said. “The least amount of time that you can give is the most you can give to all of these students.”
Devon Kelley was in attendance. He mentors kids through the business Mental Health Resources, LLC.
Kelley agreed on the potential for mentorship to improve kids’ lives, saying this call can open the doors for more proactive interventions.
“At first we couldn’t get to the schools, we had to find these kids after they got in trouble,” Kelley said. “You’re giving us an opportunity to meet them where they’re at.”
Applications are online here for Hampton City Schools and for Newport News Public Schools.
