An abandoned building on Clinton Avenue in Albany.

A local pastor recently launched a program offering Albany teens sneakers and gift cards in exchange for guns in their possession. It was an earnest tactic to address youth violence. But I, for one, felt that it was a gimmick — a feeble attempt to slay the dragon looming over Albany.

Teenagers in this city are living with trauma, poverty, housing instability and a public that talks about them more than with them. And yet here we are again: a flyer, a quote, a giveaway — but still no real inclusion of the youth we claim we’re trying to reach.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

This kind of response tells young people that we don’t take their lives seriously. They’re not being asked what they need. They’re being reduced to a problem to solve — or worse, to a stereotype. Basketball tournaments, backpack giveaways and sneaker swaps suggest that we think their futures are limited to entertainment or crime.

If we want to talk about youth violence, we have to start........

© Times Union