How Do We Stop The Violence

We keep asking, “How do we stop the violence?”

In recent months, we've seen too many young people killed by gun violence in our community. Understandably, there has been a lot of conversation about what needs to change like policy, funding, resources, accountability.

All of those conversations have a place. But I keep coming back to one question: Are we asking young people what they need?

There are young people dealing with trauma, mental health challenges, homelessness, disconnection, and a sense of helplessness. Families are struggling too.

But if we want to prevent violence, we have to understand what is happening beneath it. We can't solve what we don't understand and I know that if we want to understand what young people need, we need to create spaces where they can tell us. Maybe the first step isn't another meeting ABOUT young people, maybe it's creating a place where young people can walk in, be heard, and have a voice in shaping the solutions.

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