Clarksville Gaming Café to Sponsor New Youth Program Elberth Martin Vasquez

The Vlow Gaming Café is partnering with local Clarksville, Tennessee, youth organizations to sponsor #GetIntoGaming to use gaming as a therapeutic means to reach at-risk youth. Inspired by the Philadelphia Gaming Initiative this exciting new venture will couple mentoring and gaming as a means to keep kids off the streets and ideally out of trouble. Videogames continue to be a popular activity for this demographic, with 70 percent of youth under the age of 18, so accessing this platform as a way to connect seems like a obvious choice. Prior associations and assumptions between video gaming and increases in violence and aggressive behavior have been debunked in recent research and no longer are considered a risk for problem behaviors or clinical symptoms. The benefits of gaming, particularly for youth, include enhancing problem-solving and strategizing skills, creativity and learning how to cooperate with others as part of a team. Gaming can also provide a safe space to work out difficult emotions, improving mood and easing anxiety, while at the same time improving networking and social skills. The Vlow Gaming Café is excited for the opportunity to provide that safe space at their Clarksville location. The program is entirely free for those attending and although initial referrals will come from the youth organization partnerships, all youth under the age of 18 are welcome to participate. The program will run every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 4pm to 7pm and additional information, including registration can be found on the Vlow Gaming Café website under Events.

HASHTAGS:

#GetIntoGaming #GamesOverGuns