STYCtalks Empowering Young Voices

Gambling is the monster we created. We let our children watch the card table come out at cookouts and family reunions — money slapped down, laughs getting louder, someone chasing the win in a game of spades. We taught them how to play. We showed them how to bet. We let them dream about taking the jackpot from cousins and siblings. There was no harm in it, right?  That’s how gambling looked in the early 2000s — gathered around tables, surrounded by family, and happening in plain sight. Today, it looks very different. Technology puts gambling within reach in seconds. This generation is tech-savvy and understands the ins and outs of digital platforms, including how to get around age-verification systems — often by using a parent’s information. Stories like these raise an important question: do you ever stop to wonder what your child is doing on their phone? 👀📱 What makes this so dangerous is the illusion. It’s the illusion of winning real money that pulls youth in and keeps them hoo...

In the past month, Louisville has had three recent accidental, self-inflicted shootings involving juveniles—including a 14-year-old who died after an accidental self-inflicted shooting and another juvenile who was hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself in the leg. ( https://www.wave3.com ) I’m writing this as a community nonprofit leader, not to shame parents—because shame doesn’t prevent injuries. Barriers prevent injuries. And right now, too many kids are still getting access to firearms during the exact moments we least expect. If you’ve ever said (or thought) any of these, you’re not alone: “I never thought this would happen in my house.” ( https://www.wave3.com ) “He wouldn’t touch it.” “I didn’t know she knew the code.” “I thought I hid it.” “I thought it was only for a minute.” Those words usually show up after the worst has already happened. The weak links: how a carefree teen becomes a gun victim Accidental shootings don’t usually start with “bad kids” or “bad paren...