Gun Violence Reduction Leaders To Visit White House On Wednesday

By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer Local gun violence prevention advocate Freddie Dearborn, left, will visit the White House on June 12 for a meeting on reducing gun violence. Robert J. Hansen, OBSERVER Local gun violence prevention leaders Freddie Dearborn Jr., Barbara Dearborn and Rasheed Shepherd from Advance Peace will attend a meeting hosted by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention on June 12. The meeting will focus on healing-centered community violence intervention and the importance of increasing mental health support to improve the well-being and safety of impacted communities. “Urban gun violence takes a toll on individuals and communities, especially among African American males aged 15-34,” DeVone Boggan, Advance Peace CEO and founder, said in a statement. “Advance Peace local leaders are working tirelessly to foster community-wide transformations in cities most impacted by firearm violence. We are helping to build life-affirming infrastructure that will help to deliver sustained reductions in gun violence. This is an extraordinary and welcomed opportunity to continue to help communities impacted by gun violence thrive in peace.” Advance Peace supports municipal and community efforts to reduce retaliatory gun violence within impacted neighborhoods. Its Peacemaker Fellowship program offers attention intensive mentorship, life...