YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Adding more jobs, businesses, opportunity's for youth after high school and more sports courts were just some of the ideas proposed by Youngstown's youth to city officials Tuesday night.

Community Initiative to Reduce Violence and Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown met with kids, encouraging them to voice their concerns about the city and solutions on how to better the area.

"We'll talk about treasures that we have in our city, we'll talk about the critical issues, we'll also talk about, if we get this right, what does that look like," explained Guy Burney, Director of Community Initiative to Reduce Violence.

The most talked about concern was the rising violence in the city. One child explained the crime is getting so bad, when he's on his front porch and hears gunshots, he doesn't even react anymore.

Tyquan Cheirs, a student at Rayen Early College, proposed a skate park or arcade center for teenagers to safely gather.

"You can find the people that you have interests with [at a proposed park like this] and they can help you, if you are on the wrong path, they could help you get on the right path," Cheirs said.

"I asked how can we stop gun violence in teens and around the community because it needs to stop," said Alijah Gibson, a student at Valley Christian School. 

Gibson said he's seen this violence directly affect his world and hopes city officials respond to what him and his peers have to say.

"We want to challenge them to talk about our city and to envision what they want to see because they're apart of that," Burney added. "So, we all take part in what we want our city to be."

If you're interested in stopping by the next scheduled meeting, that's planned for Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Box Car Lounge.

That meeting is open for young adults ages 19 to 35.

"A strong and healthy community listens to their young people," Burney said. "Because they are the next set of leaders."