01

• YMI was founded in 1993 by the Rev. Malachi Walker.
• YMI is a male youth empowerment & mentoring program for young men ages 
  8 – 17.
• YMI uses a wholistic approach designed to empower males mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
• In 2019 YMI serviced more than 100 young men.
• Young Men, Inc. is now entering its 33rd year of continuous service to the youth of Indianapolis.
  

02

Young Men, Inc. (YMI) exists to foster an attitude of achievement in at-risk males by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to make positive life decisions. Our mission is rooted in the belief that early intervention, mentorship, and structured guidance dramatically increase a young man’s chances of building a stable and successful future.

Population Served

• Males age 8–16, with a primary focus on African American and other at-risk youth in Marion County.
• 85% of participants come from single-parent households, predominantly female-led.

Our Summer Empowerment Camp

YMI operates a low-cost summer camp that requires only a minimal uniform/activity fee. In return, participants receive:

• Access to positive male mentors
• A violence-free, safe environment during the summer months
• Positive peer mentoring
• Weekly incentives for participation and achievement
• Automatic re-enrollment for returning participants
• Specialized workshops and educational field trips

Workshops & Skill Development

Our workshops address the barriers that Black and at-risk males frequently encounter. Topics include:

• Conflict resolution
• Healthy lifestyle development
• Positive interactions with law enforcement
• College readiness
• Career exploration
• Community service and giving back
• Access to school-year mentorship and enrichment activities
  

03

• YMI was founded in 1993 by the Rev. Malachi Walker.
• YMI is a male youth empowerment & mentoring program for young men ages 
  8 – 16.
• YMI uses a holistic approach designed to empower males mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
• In 2019 YMI serviced more than 100 young men.
• Young Men, Inc. is now entering its 33rd year of continuous service to the youth of Indianapolis.
  

04

Indianapolis continues to face a persistent and deeply rooted youth violence crisis that disproportionately impacts young Black males and at‑risk youth in Marion County. While overall crime trends fluctuate year to year, the severity, concentration, and early age of involvement among young males remain alarming. These realities underscore the urgent need for early intervention programs like Young Men, Inc.

High‑risk neighborhoods continue to bear the burden of the problem. Public Safety officials have identified several neighborhoods with consistently high rates of violent crime, including:

• 16th & Tibbs
• 29th & Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
• 34th & Illinois
• 38th & Sherman
• 42nd & Post
• New York & Sherman

Although these areas represent only 4.7% of Indianapolis’ population, they account for over one‑third of non‑fatal shootings and homicides. This concentration of violence creates an environment where young men are exposed to trauma, instability, and negative influences at an early age.

Youth Violence Is Rising in Severity and Starting Earlier

Across Marion County, youth involvement in violent incidents has increased in both frequency and intensity. Young men are becoming involved in serious offenses — including gun possession, armed robbery, and aggravated assault — at younger ages than in previous decades.

Many of the young men entering the juvenile system report:

• Exposure to violence in their neighborhoods
• Lack of consistent male role models
• Academic struggles and chronic absenteeism
• Unaddressed trauma and emotional instability
• Pressure from peers or older individuals involved in criminal activity

These factors create a pipeline that funnels vulnerable youth toward the criminal justice system unless early intervention occurs.

Cycles of Trauma and Instability Drive Risk

The majority of the young men YMI serves come from single‑parent households, often led by mothers who are working multiple jobs or managing significant stress. Without structured support, young men in these environments face:

• Limited supervision during out‑of‑school hours
• Increased exposure to neighborhood violence
• Emotional and behavioral challenges
• Difficulty forming healthy peer relationships
• A lack of positive male mentorship

These conditions make them more susceptible to recruitment into negative peer groups or criminal activity.

Gun Violence Remains a Critical Threat

Gun violence continues to be the leading cause of death for youth in Indiana. Even when homicide numbers fluctuate, the overall exposure to gun violence — hearing gunshots, witnessing shootings, losing peers — remains consistently high.

This exposure creates:

• Chronic stress
• Hypervigilance
• Difficulty focusing in school
• Increased likelihood of carrying a weapon for “protection”
• A sense of hopelessness about the future

Without intervention, these patterns become self‑reinforcing. While we respect the right of individuals to legally carry firearms, we do not believe our youth should have access to assault weapons and guns that take the lives of others.

Educational Disruption and Limited Opportunity

Schools in high‑risk areas face:

• Higher suspension and expulsion rates
• Lower graduation rates
• Increased behavioral incidents
• Students entering classrooms with unaddressed trauma

Young men who fall behind academically often disengage entirely, increasing their vulnerability to street‑level influences.

The Window for Intervention Is Narrow

Research and local data show that by the time a young man reaches age 18:

• His peer group is largely established
• His exposure to violence has already shaped his worldview
• His likelihood of entering the criminal justice system increases dramatically

This is why YMI focuses on ages 8–16. The years when identity, confidence, and decision‑making patterns are still forming.

05

Key Indicators (2018-2026) Indianapolis & Marion County

1. Youth Homicides Have Reached Record Highs (2018–2023)

• Youth gun homicides (ages 19 and under) in Indianapolis more than doubled, rising from 20 deaths in 2018 to 44 deaths in 2023.
• Homicides among minors (under 18) tripled between 2016 and 2023.

2. 2024 Saw a Drop in Youth Gun Homicides — But Non-Fatal Shootings Increased

• Youth gun homicides dropped from 44 in 2023 to 17 in 2024.
• Non-fatal youth shootings increased by 7% in 2024.

3. Juvenile Violent Crime Remains High in Marion County

• More than 650 juveniles were found guilty of felonies in 2022–2023.
• Many first charges are gun-related misdemeanors, meaning true involvement is undercounted.

4. Youth Homicides Continue to Fluctuate (2023–2026)

•  Youth homicides hit 25 in 2023, dropped to 12 in 2024, then rose to 15 in 2025.
• Early 2026 data show increase in youth involvement as both victims and suspects.

5. Marion County Has One of the Highest Gun Death Rates in Indiana

• In 2024, Marion County recorded the highest gun-related death rate in Indiana at 31.5 per 100,000 residents.
• Indiana saw 1,200-gun deaths in 2024, a rate 34.4% higher than the national average.

6. Gun Violence Among Children and Teens Remains Severe

• Firearms are the leading cause of death for Indiana youth ages 1–17.
• From 2020–2024, Indiana averaged 81-gun deaths per year among children ages 1–17.

7. Long-Term Trend: Gun Deaths in Indiana Continue to Rise

• Indiana’s gun death rate increased 48% from 2014 to 2023.
• From 2015–2024, gun homicides increased 31%, and gun suicides increased 42%.
  

06

Failure to Address the Problem

The Impact on Our Youth

• Increased criminal activity
• Youth who survive but do not thrive
• Inability to compete academically, socially, and economically
• Continued cycles of trauma, instability, and limited opportunity

The Impact on Our Community & Workforce

• A shrinking pool of well-prepared workers
• Loss of creativity, innovation, and leadership
• Increased violence and instability
• Negative effects on schools, families, and businesses
• Accelerated gentrification pressures and community displacement

The Impact on Our Society

• Erosion of core values
• Higher long-term public safety and social service costs
• Reduced civic participation and community cohesion