The City of Knoxville Office of Community Safety and Empowerment invites families to roll into Youth Violence Prevention Week (April 19-25, 2026) at the Roll 4 Peace skate party on Sunday, April 19, 2026, 12-2 p.m. at Skatetown, 5713 N. Broadway. 

Admission is free and open to all ages. The event includes a resource fair connecting youth with summertime jobs, internships, activities, and other opportunities. 

“This is a fun, inclusive way to launch our community’s recognition of Youth Violence Prevention Week and help families figure out what their young people will do this summer to stay engaged and connected,” says Star Starks, Partnerships and Programs Coordinator. 

National Youth Violence Prevention Week (YVPW) is an initiative started in 2021 by Sandy Hook Promise to raise awareness around youth violence.

As part of the Youth Violence Prevention Week grant program, the City provided a total of $23,950 in funding to eight local organizations to support qualifying programs and activities during YVPW: Karate Five Association, Inc., Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals, My Daughters Journey, Renounce Denounce, The Edge Foundation, The Verb Kind, Wesley House, and the YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley. Programs during the week include: 

• Video instruction to youth and adults on human trafficking and physical/verbal de-escalation strategies
• Empowerment sessions for youth focused on education, discussion, and activities centered on making positive choices, conflict resolution, and building safe communities
• Gun-safety training for young professionals who work or volunteer in youth-facing environments
• Trauma-informed, family-strengthening programming for moms and daughters
• Sports, fitness and leadership activities accompanied by group discussions on the impact of violence 
• Arts, fitness activities, and community events that incorporate conflict-resolution and de-escalation strategies, helping students practice cooperation and emotional regulation
• Kickball tournament with t-shirts and prizes

While some programs are open to the public, others are provided only for the organizations’ participants. Open opportunities with registration information are listed at KnoxvilleTN.gov/YVPW.