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• Apr 10, 2008 6:03 pm US/Central
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  City, U Of C Partner In Study On Youth Violence

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City, U Of C Partner In Study On Youth Violence

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The city of Chicago is taking a new approach to stopping youth violence. Mayor Richard M. Daley announced Thursday the city will study and develop new programs to make sure no more lives are lost.

CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports Ron Holt, whose son, Blair, was killed in gun violence last year, is one of a group of parents involved in a conference aimed at ending violence in the community.

He stood outside an Englewood grocery store Thursday, passing out flyers about a parenting conference taking place this weekend.

"We need program like this," Holt said. "There are people in this community that are crying out for help. They need help. They've run out of answers of what to do."

Holt and his group aren't the only ones desperate for answers. Daley announced a partnership with the University of Chicago in which leaders in sociology, crime, public policy and education will join forces to address youth violence.

"We owe it to our children to get to the bottom of violence and why is it happening in the first place," Daley said. "What more can we do to think outside the box that we've never thought outside before?"

The plan is to study a number social service programs to see how and if they're working. Researchers will also to develop new initiatives.

"We're figuring out what actually works," said Prof. Jens Ludwig of the U of C. "We're going to look at whether the kids we managed to serve with new pilot interventions have different outcomes then what we see in other areas."

Parents like Mary Richardson welcome the study, and look forward to any solutions. Her daughter was murdered.

"Every day I see a child get killed it's a flash back. And something actually needs to be done about this problem," Richardson said.

Researchers will also talk to parents and teenagers in the community to get their input on the problems and possible solutions.

If you're interested in attending the parent resource fair this weekend, it's being sponsored by an organization called the Black Star Project.

It will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B.

Call the project at (773) 285-9600 for more information.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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