NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — They've grown up in the part of Nashville that historically has the highest incarceration rate of any zip code in the country.
Thursday, city leaders decided to ask the kids what they need to improve their chances in life.
Members of Vice Mayor Jim Shulman's Special Committee on 37208 organized a listening session with students from Pearl-Cohn Magnet High School, Republic High School and McKissack Middle School.
And the kids had plenty of ideas, including increased focus on mentoring and mental health.
"Therapy is very important because a lot of traumatic things happen in the community -- like we said, the trauma and drama at home," said Pearl-Cohn senior Brandon Brown-Springer.
"That builds behavior and keeps the cycle going."
Pearl-Cohn's principal came up with the idea for the listening session after attending a recent meeting of the special committee.
"At that meeting what I noticied when I was there was there were a lot of adults in the room and there were a lot of people that really weren't connected to 37208," said Dr. Miriam Harrington.
"So I felt it was important that the youth and the student voice was heard."
The kids' ideas will be shared with the committee as it explores recommendations to keep future generations from falling through the cracks.
Special Section: Broken
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