One Lexington and Public Library partner to upgrade youth programming options

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – One Lexington works to keep neighborhoods safe, through intervention and prevention.

Director Devine Carama says the biggest request from the community is programming for kids, and a partnership with the public library will help accomplish that.

“We got to meet young people where they are. They love music, they love computers, they love social media, so we can’t shy away from those things because those things are being used to manipulate our young people and instead let’s take the reins on those spaces and lets use them to engage young people in a positive way” said Devine Carama.

They are working together to upgrade the digital studio portion of the library.

The upgrades would include providing better microphones, software, improved editing systems, gaming and more for music and video production

“Me being a hip hop artist, understanding how much young people love music, love digital spaces, coding and all that nature, I felt it was a natural partnership for One Lexington to get involved in” added Carama.

“He wanted to talk to us about a way that we could start doing youth programs specifically with teens, teaching them how to use the equipment, helping get them more interested in music and performances and of course how to use the technologies that we have to support their interests and hopefully their careers as they move forward” said Anne Donworth, Director of Development for Lexington Public Library.

Carama says not only will this provide an alternative safe space for kids to get off the streets …it will provide a creative outlet for the next generation.

“Music and art can be a catapult for young people to find their voice to do anything and two it’s an outlet for kids to release anything they’ve been going through, through the pandemic, the social unrest and everything going on, they need an outlet and music can be that outlet I think.”

No date has been set yet for the upgrades to begin.