Mark Owens, boxing coach and owner of Mark Owens Boxing, started his True Ring Leaders program with one purpose in mind: saving the youth.
Through his boxing and mentoring program, Owens offers boxing coaching to young teens, typically ones who come from troubled neighborhoods. His passion to do so comes from a deeply rooted issue he sees in his community: the violence and the murders.
READ ALSO: 13 Investigates: Crime reported every 7 hours in this Houston neighborhood
Crime committed every 7 hours in this neighborhood
In 2020, 67 kids under the age of 18 were killed by homicide in the greater Houston area. A total of 52 of those children were killed by gunshot wounds. This year, 28 kids have been killed in homicides, 24 of whom died in a shooting.
"I can't just listen to that without actively trying to be some sort of solution," said Owens. "Almost every kid in here has lost someone to gun violence."
Juan Cantos, 16, has been a part of Owens' program for about four months.
"Mark has helped me through tough times and coming here, if I ever feel any type of anger, I can just come over here and box it out," said Cantos.
With Owens expanding his gym to southwest Houston, he's able to accept more teenagers into the program.
For more information visit MarkOwensBoxFit.com.
Follow Stefania Okolie on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.