A critical new initiative, H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young People Elevate), is launching in Savannah to empower youth and become an intricate part of the community’s crime-reduction strategy. The community based organization will teach media production, creative storytelling, communication, and essential life skills to young people aged 13–25.
H.Y.P.E. directly addresses the need for creative outlets and skills training in underserved communities, especially following a concerning trend of increased violent crime among young people in 2024, despite an overall 20% drop in violent crime for the city.
“Our mission is to give young people new purpose along the tools and confidence to express themselves through modern media,” said John “J. Michaels” Garrett Founder and Executive Director of H.Y.P.E. “We’re not just teaching skills — we’re building leaders, creators, and change makers who can impact their communities in positive ways.”…