Across Indiana, the ripple effects of gun violence are felt in homes, schools, and neighborhoods every day—but for too many young people, it’s not just a news headline. It’s their reality. The Mic Is Ours, a powerful episode from WISH-TV’s Real Talk series, hands the microphone to these young leaders, giving them a platform to confront one of our state’s most urgent issues head-on. Through candid conversations with community experts, including Chrystal Hines, CEO of Inner Beauty, and Chief Bailey of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), they share their lived experiences, frustrations, and visions for change. The result is a raw, emotional, and necessary dialogue that challenges us to do more than simply acknowledge the problem—it urges us to become part of the solution.
The urgency of this conversation is underscored by Indiana’s sobering statistics. In 2023, firearms were the leading cause of death for Hoosier children ages 1–17, a heartbreaking reality that highlights just how deeply gun violence cuts into our younger generations. That same year, Indiana’s overall gun death rate rose by 5 percent, placing the state 13th highest in the nation for firearm homicides. The disparities are even more staggering when broken down by race—young Black males ages 15–34, who make up just 2 percent of Indiana’s population, accounted for 36 percent of all gun homicides, making them 27 times more likely than their white peers to die by homicide.
Yet amid the grim numbers, there have been glimmers of hope. In Indianapolis, youth homicides among those aged 19 and under dropped from 44 in 2023 to just 17 in 2024—a more than 60 percent decrease. This dramatic shift proves progress is possible, but it’s tempered by another alarming trend: non-fatal shootings involving young people actually increased by 7 percent over the same period. The risk hasn’t gone away—it has simply changed form, leaving young Hoosiers still navigating an environment where safety is far from guaranteed.
The problem also reaches directly into our schools. Between 2015 and 2024, Indiana saw at least 2,771 shootings within earshot—roughly four city blocks—of K–12 schools. Many of these incidents occurred near majority-Black urban schools, some of which endured more than 40 nearby shootings in just a decade. These aren’t distant tragedies; they are daily realities for far too many students, shaping their sense of security and their futures.
“We cannot ignore the reality that gun violence is impacting our kids at alarming rates. But at the heart of Real Talk is our belief that young people are not defined by the challenges they face,” explained Ronnie Beathea, Director of Youth Services, VOICES. “Our mission is to empower them through honest, constructive conversations that strengthen their path toward economic self-sufficiency and prepare them to become civically engaged leaders. By listening to and investing in their voices, we build the foundation for safer, stronger communities across Indiana.”
This is why The Mic Is Ours matters.
By centering youth perspectives, the episode turns statistics into stories, connecting the data to the faces and voices behind it. It reminds us that the solutions to gun violence won’t come from top-down policies alone—they’ll also come from listening to the very people most affected. Watching these young leaders speak truth to power is a reminder that their voices are not just valuable; they’re essential.
“What we’re seeing with Real Talk is powerful—the young people aren’t just showing up, they’re leading the conversations,” Beathea continued. “Youth who participate tell us it feels different from other community forums because it’s their voices driving the dialogue, not adults talking at them. Community leaders are taking note too, recognizing that when young people feel heard, they are more likely to step forward as problem solvers.”
Now is the time to listen. Tune in to Real Talk: “The Mic Is Ours” and hear directly from the youth shaping Indiana’s future. Let their stories move you from awareness to action—whether that means sharing what you’ve learned, supporting mentorship programs like New B.O.Y. and Inner Beauty Inc. that emphasize “connection before correction,” or advocating for safe storage laws and trauma-informed school policies. Gun violence may be a complex, deeply rooted issue, but by elevating the voices of those most impacted, we take one step closer to building safer communities for every Hoosier child.
Real Talk is brought to you by the nonprofit VOICES Corp., the Indianapolis city-county government’s Office of Public Health & Safety’s division of reentry, and public relations firm The Holliday Collaborative Agency.
