Young Kids in Indianapolis Design Billboards To Promote Violence Prevention

INDIANAPOLIS–More than 20 billboards have been put up across Indianapolis promoting violence prevention. It is an effort being led by young kids in both Indianapolis and Marion County who are sick and tired of seeing senseless violence happen.

A billboard asking “What is actually behind the violence?” has been placed in low-crime areas with the intent of educating the public about the ongoing violence problem. Surrounding the question on the billboard is the answers as to why violence occurs such as poverty and societal pressures.

Another billboard that says “We are powerful, beautiful, family, human” has been placed in hot spot crime areas.

“I want people to express to their kids, their neighbors and have a discussion just about what these billboards actually mean — why they were put up, why should we pay attention to them, why it’s important to care about us and our community and what’s happening right now,” said Shaneice Brown, 17, at a news conference Thursday.

Brown has witnessed a lot of violence but believes there can be light in the darkness.

“Even though I was around a lot of violence, I was also around people who were changing, people who need help. I was impacted, but I was inspired,” said Brown.

Brown and three other young people from the non-profit group VOICES Corp. designed the billboards. Reagan Outdoor Advertising supported their vision by providing their creative director’s talent to design the billboards and by providing the spaces to install 25 billboards throughout the city. 

“The young visionaries involved in this project created two remarkable messages. One billboard reminds us that often trauma and unmet basic needs feed violence, while the other encourages us to see our human connections in order to stop the violence. I believe when we empower and engage the community, especially our young people, we can create a safer and healthier community,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears Thursday.

Mears hopes the art from this project can serve as a positive reminder to the community to support one another.

Indianapolis had a record number of homicides and murders in 2021.

The locations where you can see the billboards are as follows: