A rash of shootings, in two days has left five people dead, and at least one seriously wounded.

Five of the victims in this latest wave of violence were under 23-years-old. Police say, of the 150 murders this year, about 80 percent of their victims are between 15- and 23-years-old. And, they say, oftentimes, the homicides are drug related.

"What I have had the opportunity to do is talk to young people and find out what is happening in their lives," said NOPD Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo. "Many say they have nothing to look forward to, no promising outlook in life. They are only thinking about today. Not tomorrow, and certainly not five years from now."

Jim Bernazzani wants to turn that around. He is the head of a new initiative targeting at-risk children.

"The Youth Rescue Initiative is about building opportunity so they don't have to gravitate to the streets and get involved in the drug trade where unfortunately the violence resides for the most part," he said.

The privately funded program will target children between the ages of four and ten, identifying and enhancing their skill sets at a young age, so they can get good jobs when the time comes.

"That's a generational problem we have to reverse and if we don't get to it, it is going to have a debilitating effect to the youth and to all citizens of New Orleans," said Bernazzani.

Tuesday night's even was a kick-off to launch the new initiative. It also handed out $150,000 in funds to already-existing programs in the community, with a mission of helping at-risk youth.

"Many of our young people today are looking to communicate and talk to people who have experienced life and guide them in the right direction, that’s why this program is so important," said Defillo, "to give them the tools and the opportunity to be productive."

Right now, the program is identifying areas where the at-risk populations live, so they can start focusing on those neighborhoods.