The debate over how money in the proposed New York state budget should be spent in the effort to prevent violence continues in Albany.

But where do people directly affected by violent crime want to see funds go to make a difference in crime?

“I used to be in the streets and I stopped being in the streets just to come find something positive to do," said Que Penn or Rochester.

Penn says if he didn’t meet his mentor Kevin Walker, he’d likely either be in prison or dead.

"Headed in the wrong path, doing the wrong things, chilling with the wrong crowd, doing negative stuff," said Penn, who mourns the loss of his brother who was murdered.

He adds that he has more than himself to look out for. He has five sons, ages 4 to 14.

“Me and my kids, we’ve been through a whole lot,” Penn said.

Penn says his boxing coach, Kevin Walker, made the difference in his life.

"He helped me and my kids start to find other things to do rather than be in the streets, my kids being in the streets,” he said. "I’d rather they be in the gym training. It’s safe here.”

Coach Walker works with mostly inner-city children and teens who’ve been directly affected by violence.

“These kids are traumatically affected,” Walker said. “The best thing I can do is to point them in the right direction but we try to create an environment where they know it’s safe to talk to come to express how they feel. We understand that they’re hurt. Being an adult now that went through traumatic experiences myself we understand that sometimes these kids just need someone to talk to.”

And who did Coach Walker talk to? Boxing legend Charles Murray. In fact, it's the Welterweight Champion’s gym that opens its doors to Rochester’s youth.

“You have to create spaces for these children, they need it,” Walker said. “The city, the state of New York is reflecting that. We see all the violence, we see everything that’s happening all across New York state in every city. These kids need safe places to go. They need somewhere where they can express their creativity rather than the violence.”

With all the discussion about where funds should be allocated in the effort to fight crime – a message to lawmakers from those who fight the fight every day.

“Gyms and more places for kids to go to learn things like this, it would be less crime in cities, states, everywhere,” Penn said. “It’s just like nowhere for kids to go to do anything but find trouble…So I feel like if the state, the city, start to open up more and start to use more of their resources for things like, kids won’t be in danger, people won’t be getting murdered, a lot of things won’t be happening.”

And the boxers say maybe some good things would happen.

“You see these beautiful kids, where sometimes they walk in with grumpy faces and once they work out they feel so excited, they feel great, boxing makes you feel great," said Coach Walker.