2025 Youth for Peace March with Omega CDC

On September 18th, Omega CDC hosted our second annual Youth for Peace March. More than 200 people attended the march, joined by local politicians, law enforcement, and leaders from William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children’s Zone, showing that what we’re building here in Dayton is part of something bigger.

Omega CDC President Vanessa Ward reminded us, “This isn’t just a march, it’s a moment to come together and build the kind of community where every child feels safe, seen, and supported.” Her words carried through the Hope Zone as we walked together, recommitting to the promise that we will keep marching until the need no longer exists.

Last year’s march sparked youth-led ideas like RELITE Nites and the Safe Summer Challenge, proof that when young people lead, transformation follows. This year, their voices rose again, calling us to keep showing up while celebrating real progress. Youth detention in the Hope Zone has dropped from 142 in 2022 to 113 in 2025, and probation caseloads have fallen from 670 to 253 in that same period. Representation has shifted too: Hope Zone youth made up 34% of probationers in 2022, compared to only 11% in 2025. These numbers prove that community-based approaches and youth-driven solutions are creating lasting change.

The Youth for Peace March was more than a walk; it was a declaration that progress is possible. When we show up, listen, and look out for one another, we create the strong, connected neighborhoods our children need and deserve.