Money Tax Services will team up with Highway 80 Tax Services and Metro PCS to host a Stop the Violence Community Cookout.

Tim Coleman is a manager at Money Tax Services. He said after thinking about the event for a while, he finally decided to get the ball rolling.

He said he came up with the idea because he wanted the community to make a collaborative effort to help stop the violence in Selma. He wants to place an emphasis on helping youth.

“I’m originally from Selma, and I hate hearing the negative side of the city on the radio and seeing it on TV. Somebody needs to try to grab the youth and get them to wake up,” Coleman said.

Coleman said he believed having a cook out was a good way to get people to come out in good spirits.

Overall, he wants youth to leave the event feeling positive about their lives and their abilities to be good citizens of Selma.

“Maybe we can educate these kids and let them know there is more to life than guns and drugs,” Coleman said.

Two other employees at Money Tax Services have been helping Coleman plan the event.

Aryle Washington said it’s important for her to do her part in helping Selma be a better city.

“We’re trying to get a lot of people to come out. We need pastors, teachers or anyone who can impact people and introduce different ways to channel positivity instead of committing acts of violence,” Washington said.

“We want to let people know they can change their lives by doing the right things and making the right choices.”

The cookout will be Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at 1509 Broad St. It is free to the public.