Empowering communities: Fund violence prevention initiatives now

By Bri TollieSpecial to the AFROIn Pennsylvania, cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Allentown are grappling with a grim reality: gun violence is snuffing out lives at an alarming rate. Roughly 557 Pennsylvanians die in gun homicides each year. Of all homicides statewide, 76 percent involve a gun (slightly higher than the national average of 74 percent), highlighting the urgent need for action.Bri Tollie is the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s justice reform and election integrity program assistant. Having just received a master’s degree in public administration at Delaware State University, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human Rights from Southern Methodist University. (Courtesy photo)To effectively combat this epidemic, it’s crucial to prioritize community-based solutions. One promising avenue is violence intervention programs featuring trained violence interrupters (VI). These individuals bring invaluable firsthand experience and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. By leveraging their experiences, they are uniquely equipped to mediate conflicts and prevent violence before it escalates. Their expertise lies not only in understanding the complexities of violence but also in offering solutions from personal insight.Picture them, deeply embedded in the community, traversing the streets and knocking on doors. Having experienced violent situations before, they’ve navigated...