NATCHEZ — Natchez-Adams County civic and church leaders met Saturday to explore ideas to help the troubled youth in the community.

The Rev. Kevin Deason of New Direction Worship Center, where the meeting was held, said God put bringing the community together to look for solutions on his heart.

“It can work. Actually, I’ll do one better for you — it will work,” Deason said. “It will just take everyone. They say it takes a village to raise a child. We are all going to have to be willing to be part of that village.”

Deason said last year, the community hosted a similar meeting during a streak of violence. Deason said this year he intends for the results to be different because he plans to meet monthly.

“I hope to put together a team of people concerned about the community, people who actually want to do something,” Deason said. “We can’t meet every six months. We can’t meet every year. We have to meet often, every month, if we hope to change the community.”

While Deason said he believes the church needs to be involved, he does not believe people will be won over if the perception is the only reason the ministry is involved is to get people to attend church.

“This is not a church issue — this is not about getting folks to come to church, it is about the church going to them,” Deason said.

Natchez Police Chief Daniel White said while no officer wears a cape, officers have access to a superpower — the community.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the fighting against crime, but we need the citizens in the community to help,” White said. “When you see things and you call the police, we can solve a lot of crime in the area. But nobody wants to snitch. We have got to get passed that.”

Natchez Police Sgt. Jerry Ford said an impetus is also on parents to prevent crime. Ford said so often at a crime scene, a parent tells an officer, “My child didn’t do that. My child doesn’t have that.”

“Well,” Ford said, “have you ever went and looked to see what your child has got? See who his friends are and what kind of background his friends have?”

Ford said much crime could be prevented at home if a parent will have conversations with children about violence, look through a child’s belongings or follow their children on social media.

“A lot of times, they will post stuff on Facebook and tell you what is about to happen,” Ford said. “A lot of parents just don’t take the time to see what is going on in their child’s life.”

The Rev. Nance Hixon said his church does not typically have many youth members, but he said that doesn’t mean Grace Methodist Church and others like it cannot have an impact on the youth community.

Hixon said so many church members in the community have an extra hour or more a week to prepare for functions at church, but he wondered how big of an impact they could have if that effort was mobilized in tutoring or other mentoring activity?

“People are ready and able, but they don’t know about the opportunity because no one told them or no one asked them,” Hixon said. “I don’t work with kids a lot, but my church can work a lot with kids.”

Deason said he has been told more than 100 churches exist in Natchez. If every church picked a day to get out in the neighborhood to volunteer, so much could get accomplished.

“That’s a church’s job,” Deason said. “We try to get away from it. In our society, a church is a pillar of the community. We have to get back to that. We have to get outside and talk to these kids.”

Founding It Still Takes a Village in 2013, Chantel Marsaw said her organization started out with 19 students and has now helped 300. Marsaw aims to help children who, like her, lost family members at an early age.

Marsaw said she’s working with Mayor Darryl Grennell to try to find a building in which to operate so she can get more grants to help the children of the community.

“I want each of my students to be prepared for the real world,” Marsaw said. “A lot do not know how to dress for a job or are intimidated by essay writing.

“I know it is working, I just need help. I want to tutor students and also help with financial aid.”

Deason said a problem organizations such as Marsaw’s face in this community is envy.

“Instead of going against her, we need to work with her,” Deason said. “Have you ever heard of the crab mentality? One crab is trying to get out, and the others will pull him back down.

“What we need to do is find another crab, and go lift him up.”

Grennell said people in Natchez often split resources too thinly. He said, for example, hearing people talk about bus travel, that the Dianne and Joe Good Youth Group has been taking children on trips for years.

“Why not enhance their program?” Grennell said. “Why not enhance the Stewpot instead of try to invent a new Stewpot?

“Let’s spread the word about our community programs and let’s get people involved with enhancing them.”

As Marsaw wished to help students dress for success, Mark LaFrancis with Home With Heroes said he pledged to help students speak for success by training on public speaking. LaFrancis said he was also willing to help teach children about filmography.

“There are fine young people in this community,” LaFrancis said.

The Rev. Dan Gibson said many of the youth also have talents — the community just needs to help them discover it.

“Why are people into crime and drugs? Why do they get weapons to feel important? It is because ultimately they don’t feel they have value inside,” Gibson said. “When we tap into these talents, and that talent starts to come out, they develop it and become so proud because they realize they are so unique.”

One of a few children present, Cameron Dunbar, 12, who attends Morgantown College Prep Academy, said he enjoyed the conversation.

Dunbar said he thought it was good to hear that people care about and want to help the community’s youth.

Deason said he was disappointed more parents did not show up to expose their children to the community forum. However, Deason said he prayed for the people who did show up, not the people who were not present.

The community has the heart to have an impact on curbing youth violence, Deason said, but the effort cannot end with one group session.

“This is only a small step, y’all,” Deason said. “It is only a small step, but we are going to walk.

“It will take all of us working together, but this is our opportunity to make change happen.”

Anyone is interested in participating in the effort is asked to contact Deason at 601-451-8546.