Solutions journalism aims to find real answers to today’s problems

ORLANDO, Fla. – Solutionaries is not your typical news show.

Every week, our team of journalists goes deeper to find the people creating real solutions to some of the toughest issues in our world.

A city can pass new rules and add extra police to high-crime neighborhoods with the hopes of reducing gun violence, but that doesn’t always work.

We’re looking at two big cities — Orlando and Detroit — that are using a similar approach to prevent gun violence that combines technology with strong community intervention.

Orlando sees results in new crime prevention program

Is it the answer to finally reversing the growing trend of gun violence in the most dangerous parts of Central Florida?

Raysean Brown thinks so.

A year ago, Brown was hired by the City of Orlando’s Children and Families Division to start up a program that has been tried and tested in major cities around the country: Community Violence Initiative (CVI).

News 6′s Erik Von Ancken found data that shows Orlando’s violent crime rate has gone down by more than a third.

Read more from News 6′s Erik Von Ancken here.

Helping the Forgotten

A Solutionary is someone who recognizes a problem or injustice in society and comes up with innovative ways to tackle those inequities and, in the process, makes the world a better place.

Bill Price is one of those people.

He’s a veteran and retired firefighter in Virginia who launched a program in his hometown to ensure no first responder falls through the cracks.

Read more about the Sirens and Salutes program here.

Sharing stories like Bill’s is a big part of what we do on Solutionaries and at WKMG News 6.

Serving Those Who Served is a project that highlights local groups that are getting results for veterans and compiles resources for veterans and active duty military personnel who need help.

Find stories about this year’s Gary Sinise Foundation healing retreat at Disney World and the U.S Army Air Force Staff Sergeant from Leesburg who died while serving during World War II here.

Our final Solutionary is also helping forgotten members of society.

She’s lending a voice to women who have fled their homes to Florida to seek a better life in the United States.

Keep up with new episodes of Solutionaries on the News 6+ Takeover every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on News 6 or watch on demand by downloading the News 6+ for your smart TV (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV).

Solutionaries is a production of the news teams at Graham Media Group stations KPRC-Houston, WDIV-Detroit, KSAT-San Antonio, WKMG-Orlando, WJXT/WCWJ-Jacksonville, and WSLS-Roanoke. On Solutionaries, we’re highlighting the creative thinkers and doers who are working to make the world a better place.

Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

About the Authors:

Katrina Scales is a producer for the News 6+ Takeover at 3:30 p.m. She also writes and voices the podcast Your Florida Daily. Katrina was born and raised in Brevard County and started her journalism career in radio before joining News 6 in June 2021.

Emmy Award-winning reporter Louis Bolden joined the News 6 team in September of 2001 and hasn't gotten a moment's rest since. Louis has been a General Assignment Reporter for News 6 and Weekend Morning Anchor. He joined the Special Projects/Investigative Unit in 2014.