In recent meetings, Gastonia Councilwoman Cheryl Littlejohn called for a youth violence prevention program to be established at The Erwin Center, a community center and park located in the Highland neighborhood.

Local organizer and volunteer with 101 Black Men for Highland , Finland Fair, is not sure a brand new program is the answer.

About four years ago, Fair and several other men living in Ward 4, which Littlejohn represents, came together to form 101 Black Men for Highland.

They made the decision to start the mentorship program after several Gastonia children were killed or jailed due to gun violence, he said.

“We knew all of these kids who were killing each other. They were from different sides of town, but we knew these kids. So, we already had a relationship established with the

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