A meeting of minds in Price Hill to find solutions to gun violence in our neighborhoods and among our kids."Lend my voice, but mainly my ear because it's important to hear what other people are going through, what other people's ideas are. And I look forward to more collaboration as a city to address this issue," said Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens.Owens joined around 20 others at the recreation center to brainstorm.While the community works together she knows the city plays a role, too."Everyone was on board with declaring gun violence a public health crisis so with that I know we are all committed to looking at this from the right perspective and allocating resources in the right places," she said. Community advocates said teenagers are looking for outlets and opportunities."A lot of the youth I work with have been involved with trauma, grief, losses," said executive director of I Dream Academy De'Ron Smith.This 'Plan to End Gun Violence' was started at a grassroots level in 2020 and organizers said it's time for an update.Among the groups are families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, including Gary Smith, whose 14-year-old was killed in 2019."Never thought my family would be involved. Always done a good job of raising our kids and keeping them safe," he said.Owens said the city is working to elevate opportunities for young people and to invest in youth.Smith said he's a part of the conversation to try to understand why kids turn to guns."I need to be educated on why they do this. What's going on in their mind?" Smith said.
A meeting of minds in Price Hill to find solutions to gun violence in our neighborhoods and among our kids.
"Lend my voice, but mainly my ear because it's important to hear what other people are going through, what other people's ideas are. And I look forward to more collaboration as a city to address this issue," said Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens.
Owens joined around 20 others at the recreation center to brainstorm.
While the community works together she knows the city plays a role, too.
"Everyone was on board with declaring gun violence a public health crisis so with that I know we are all committed to looking at this from the right perspective and allocating resources in the right places," she said.
Community advocates said teenagers are looking for outlets and opportunities.
"A lot of the youth I work with have been involved with trauma, grief, losses," said executive director of I Dream Academy De'Ron Smith.
This 'Plan to End Gun Violence' was started at a grassroots level in 2020 and organizers said it's time for an update.
Among the groups are families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, including Gary Smith, whose 14-year-old was killed in 2019.
"Never thought my family would be involved. Always done a good job of raising our kids and keeping them safe," he said.
Owens said the city is working to elevate opportunities for young people and to invest in youth.
Smith said he's a part of the conversation to try to understand why kids turn to guns.
"I need to be educated on why they do this. What's going on in their mind?" Smith said.
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