Apollo parents bring crime to forefront

Juvenile crime is a big issue throughout Nashville, and Southeast Davidson County is no exception. In terms of gang-related activities alone, the Metro Nashville Police Department spends about 70 percent of its time in that portion of the county, according Sgt. Gary Kemper of Metro Police’s gang unit.

For Ron Woodard, principal of Southeast Davidson County’s Apollo Middle School, issues in neighborhoods have big effects on what happens at school.

“What happens in the community does come back to the schools,” Woodard said Thursday. “We want parents to be more aware of some of the issues that are going on in Nashville with our youth. … Middle school is a key time to begin to reprogram kids before they go to high school. If we can stop kids and change the way they think now, and help kids to make better choices, then we can help them to be better middle school students as well as better citizens.”

On Thursday evening, Woodard hosted a crime awareness forum for Apollo parents, and invited city leaders, a school board member, Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship (IMF) members, and Metro Police officers. A diverse group of parents gathered in Apollo’s cafeteria to learn more about juvenile crime and to brainstorm solutions.

Apollo is a school with a student population as diverse as the burgeoning Antioch community. Of the school’s nearly 400 students, 44 percent are African-American and 37 percent Hispanic, according to Tennessee Report Card data. More than 91 percent of Apollo kids are considered economically disadvantaged.

Forum participants talked about the need for more open discussion of the triggers of youth crime, as well as the lack of youth activities in the area relative to other parts of Metro Nashville. School board member Karen Johnson and Metro Council representative Duane Dominy said it’s important that Antioch residents do their best to be active and vocal in city government to ensure equal services.

Metro Police officers at the forum cited some improvement in youth crime statistics, but highlighted trends of repeat offenses. In 2008, 138 juveniles were arrested for robbery, but those 138 kids amassed 1,152 total charges.

Antioch area needs answers

The need for additional resources — and more investment of public dollars — in fast-growing Southeast Davidson County is not a new issue. The Metro Parks Department has called Antioch underserved. Council members as well as other community leaders are advocating for a community center for the area.

As Nashville’s housing market has made Antioch an increasingly economical place to live within Davidson County, the population there has boomed. MNPS has invested in a number of new classrooms in the area over the course of recent years, most notably construction of Cane Ridge High School.