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Community Working to Prevent Another Summer of Violence

COLUMBUS -- A local community center is doing its part to prevent another summer of violence.

The Central Community House on the Near East Side offers homework help, free art classes and even an open mic night for teens.

Jackie Calderone, who helps run the Transit Arts Program, told ABC6/FOX28 News' Meghan McCorkell, "The kids tell us that it's incredibly important to have a place to go to, to have a sanctuary, a place where they can feel safe and they can feel creative."

Mosheh Clark says he's been coming to the program for the past five years.

"It really turned my life around because I don't know where I would be if I didn't come here,"  he said.

Clark says he's getting ready to attend Ohio State University next year. There he says he'll major in accounting.

He says the violence in his community concerns him. "You've got to be concerned because it's your neighborhood. You don't know if it could happen to you."

Central Community House is reaching out in the community. In May, art students will help cover boarded up windows in vacant homes with artwork.

Richard Duarte Brown told McCorkell, "So, kids when they walk by abandoned houses, they can have a different outlook instead of seeing another abandoned, desolated house."

He says he hopes this can be the start of a new vision for this community.

"If you have a vision you can revitalize a neighborhood like the German Village, the Short North."

He says he hopes to, one day, see this community thrive like those before it.

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Reporter: Meghan McCorkell

$5 for TRANSIT ARTS Studios from TRANSIT ARTS on Vimeo.

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Help us continue to provide more amazing opportunities

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TRANSIT ARTS is helping to raise money to complete the renovation of 1250 Bryden Road (two blocks from Central Community House in Olde Towne East). The building will be home to a multi-generational arts center (from teens to elders) and the Carriage House will be home to TRANSIT ARTS Studios. This is going to be a beautiful, well-equipped site for serious young visual, performing, and media artists to take a big step towards their life goals. Please help us with a contribution of any amount. You may click here to make a donation online, send your contribution Central Community House, 1150 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43205 (please make your check payable to Central Community House and write TRANSIT ARTS in the "notes" section), or drop off your contribution to Central Community House.  All contributions will be recognized online and at the completed site if you will provide us with your name. Please let us know if you prefer to remain anonymous. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Balance, Antonio, LyriQ from TRANSIT ARTS on Vimeo.

BHB, LyriQ & Tyrae from TRANSIT ARTS on Vimeo.