Local faith‑based group outlines youth violence, mental‑health programs and seeks memorials on city property

DC Martinez, founder of the Blue Rock Collaborative and athletic director of the Boys & Girls Club, told the City Council that a new, faith‑centered group—referred to in the meeting as the Blue Heart Collaborative—has organized youth leaders, local youth ministers and service providers to address a rise in youth violence and suicide in Casper.

"Our vision is to unite resources to address mental health challenges that contribute to the violence and suicide within our community," Martinez said, summarizing the group's mission to "empower youth to protect their hearts by rooting their identity in Christ while discovering their unique purpose through community programs." He described a three‑stage board (youth professionals, youth representatives from schools, and youth ministers) and a four‑pillar strategy focusing on youth ministry, physical fitness, self‑sufficiency and self‑expression.

Why it matters: presenters said recent local fatalities and suicides prompted youth themselves to identify four drivers of risk—exposure to violence, mental‑health challenges amplified by social media, family/legacy pressures in a small city, and economic and educational instability—and that youth participation is central to designing prevention efforts.

Martinez outlined several planned programs and events: "Stronger Together" youth rallies held at multiple youth‑accessible sites (the first in late 2024 at the YMCA and a second at the Boys & Girls Club), a youth‑led hope and worship night scheduled for April 25 at Restoration Church, a Play for Peace series of quarterly sports tournaments (basketball, flag football, skate/BMX, soccer), a proposed Run for Resilience 5K consolidating existing suicide‑prevention runs, an expansion of hands‑on Career Works experiences, a peer‑mentor Lifeline program training high‑school and community‑college mentors, a Hope Box project through FCA, and periodic open‑mic music and spoken‑word nights.

Martinez said the first community rallies drew substantial youth participation and that youth board members who helped analyze local incidents were personally connected to several of the cases that motivated the group's formation.

On memorials: Martinez asked for help placing permanent or semi‑permanent memorials to two young people who died last year on city property at sites where youth gather, such as the rec center or Buckhorn Park. A city official said the city will follow its existing resolution governing donations, memorials and sponsorships and that the collaborative should continue working with city staff (identified in the meeting as "DC" and other staff) to develop a design and location that reduces the risk of vandalism.

The meeting included positive comments from multiple attendees and council members who praised the group's early work and urged collaboration with existing youth‑service organizations. Council discussion emphasized partnering across the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and the recreation center to rotate events and to maximize youth access.

No formal council action or vote on grants, permits or memorial placement occurred during the meeting; staff said memorial proposals would return for review under the city's established memorial/sponsorship procedure.