Corey Thomas McKechnie was hosting a 'going away' party for his family and closest friends to attend. He was leaving to train for the U.S. Coast Guard the following week. Janae drove to Corey’s house that night and didn’t feel comfortable. She didn’t understand why. Janae stood outside for a few minutes before deciding to leave. She hugged Corey goodbye and told him she would see him again before he left.



A few minutes after driving away, Janae received a phone call from a friend. She was screaming into the phone, “Corey’s dead! Corey's dead!”



Janae turned her car around as fast as she could, but it was too late. The roads were barricaded and helicopters were landing at the other end of the road. 



Corey, who was shot in the same place he had been standing with Janae, died on the scene. Two other young men were shot and were taken to the hospital in critical condition. There were never any true suspects in this case and no one has been arrested for the murder of Corey Thomas McKechnie.



Disturbing cases like these are seen every day, especially in Florida. The OAG Gang Assessment from 2011 says there are 50,625 documented gang members in Florida alone.



Teenagers join gangs for a number of reasons. They either want to feel powerful, as though they are socially accepted, or feel safe and secure in society. As a contestant in the Miss America Organization, Janae is given the opportunity to take a risk and be courageous. She has an eagerness to make a difference with this forgotten demographic.

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CJanae created Corey's K.I.D.S. It is about bringing awareness to the subject of adolescent gang violence. She believes teenagers should not feel the need to become involved in gangs and violent crimes. If they could only hear stories like these, from the other side of what they are doing, they would think twice about committing the same violent acts.



Janae is eager to move her local awareness presentations from Miami Dade County to all counties in the state of Florida.  She has a plan to decline the numbers of those involved and affected by adolescent gang violence. Janae strongly believes adolescents engage in violence as a direct effect of a behavioral health issue. She plans to lobby in Tallahassee and Washington DC for behavioral assessments to be given to every child in the public school system. She is starting a partnership with the University of Miami's School of Psychology next fall to provide free counseling to adolescents affected by gang violence.

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Janae is also supported by and works closely with the international Non-Violence Project. The NVP was created in wake of the shooting of John Lennon. Janae is their Communications Expert and is currently working with Mr. Positive on new apparel designs for the NVP's clothing line. Janae is also leading an effort to melt down the metal of used and unwanted weapons to create a monument of a gun with a knotted barrel. The statue will be placed in Newtown, Connecticut in honor of the Sandy Hook shooting.

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Janae is determined to make a difference for Corey and for every other teenager who has lost their life to gang violence. Florida holds more high-ranked ‘Most Dangerous Cities’ than any other state in the nation, with Miami being in the top five on the list.  Help Janae change this statistic. Help her use her voice and experience to make the difference our younger generations need.