According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, black men in their 20s and early 30s without a high school diploma are more likely to be in prison than at work. Now comes another tragedy: St. Petersburg police Officer David Crawford is dead. The person accused of being the shooter is Nicholas Lindsey, a 16-year-old African-American who lived in St. Petersburg's Midtown.

Here, we have six ideas on what can be done — and by whom — to stop the violence, keep teens out of trouble and headed down the path toward becoming productive members of society:

DeVere Beard: Use education to keeps youth engaged

Chad Jones: Take a holistic approach

Vicki Lopez Lukis: We must intervene early

Canaan McCaslin: Let youths know they can beat the odds

Darryl Rouson: Affirm our children's value

Irene Sullivan: Schools, community and parents have vital roles in stopping youth violence