Listen above: The North Central Florida YMCA kicked off summer camp in Hawthorne this week. It's the first time Hawthorne has had summer programming in about a decade, according to the mayor. The need for more affordable out of school programming has been central in local discussions around youth violence.
A cheer team eggs on the kickball players at Hawthorne's YMCA summer camp. (Katie Hyson/WUFT News) Angela Howard (right), president of the North Central Florida YMCA, said she's "overjoyed" to see all their work come to fruition. (Katie Hyson/WUFT News) A team watches in suspense as the kickball pitch is made. (Katie Hyson/WUFT News)