HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As the community continues to mourn teenagers killed in recent shootings, people came together on Sunday to clean and remodel a gym for children as part of a larger effort to stop violence in our area.

4 Corners Boxing Gym in Houston’s Northside is currently closed as they remodel and get it up to code.

The owner told ABC13 that with the changes, they’re hoping to make it bigger and better so more kids have both a safe place to train and a sense of community.

“We want to teach these kids to put gloves up and put guns down. The motto is gloves up, guns down, so we could prevent all these senseless killings happening in the city,” 4 Corners Boxing Gym owner Gee Githoro said.

Last month, 15-year-old Royce Witchet and 17-year-old LePaul Warren were shot and killed near their high schools.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Houston communities mourn teens killed in separate shootings

Andrew Zimmerman with Iron Walk for Kids said the remodel is important for change in light of recent violence, but also beyond that for the youth.

“Teach the kids how to come out and the gyms and help clean, help move things around, how to do construction work – so they can be at the house and help their parents wash dishes, mop, sweep, cut the yard, do things around the house as well and then they can come to the gym and train,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman explained they’ll have three months of free training when they reopen to help kids, with training already happening for 17-year-old 10-time boxing champ Levar Adams Jr.

“When I first moved to Houston about four or five years ago, this is the first gym I came to; it helped me a lot,” Adams Jr. said. “I been through a whole lot, like house fires, just a lot of ups and downs, but I got through it, that’s why I’m here to help the kids.”

He said he just made his professional debut in August, and his dad said 4 Corners Gym has changed him for the better.

They’re hoping the remodel and re-opening will provide a safe space for more children.

“Just have to come, because otherwise you’re going to be pulled in with the streets and it’s not going to be good, could go to jail and that’s what we don’t want,” Levar Adams Sr. said.

Organizers also said they hope to reopen the gym in the next month or so and start a free mentorship program to keep pouring into the next generation.

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