DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) -- Hundreds of thousands of dollars are rolling out to organizations in Durham that are focused on empowering youth.

As leaders in Durham search for ways to reduce crime involving young people, Freddie McNeil is playing a part through SIDEKICKS Academy. The character education program uses taekwondo to empower children.

"If we can catch them early in life, that will have a tremendous impact in their middle school and in their high school," said McNeil, the founder and executive director of SIDEKICKS Academy. "That's my vision [is] to empower everybody, all the youth of Durham, to keep them out of trouble."

On Tuesday, 15 organizations in Durham will receive the first round of funding through the Bull City Future Fund. SIDEKICKS Academy is one of them.

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