YouthUp Inc. launches monthly meetings with parents and teens

YouthUp Inc., a Macon non-profit, is taking steps to provide a safe space for parents and teens to come together and discuss issues that teenagers are facing in today's world.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — YouthUp Inc., a Macon non-profit, is taking steps to provide a safe space for parents and teens to come together and discuss issues that teenagers are facing in today’s world.

In collaboration with the Macon Violence Prevention initiative and the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, YouthUp is now offering an opportunity for monthly conversations.

Each month, they will discuss different topics that teens have to deal with.

Amanda Smith, the founder and executive director of Youth-Up, believes having meetings like these are necessary and beneficial for the community.

“It still takes a village,” she said. “And we’ve been getting away from that for the last 20 or 30 years, but it still takes a village. And I would encourage every adult that hears this to find a kid who doesn’t have a role model, who doesn’t have someone that believes in them, because we have got to empower our kids to find a more positive path.”

The program is expected to run for about eight months. If you’re interested, you can find more information on YouthUp’s Facebook page.