1st Thursday - May 5: Zone 1 - Northside Public Safety Council Meeting All Are Welcome! -See Notice Below-

Poll #1: How many times to you look at a typical issue of the STOP the Violence Newsletter? Once Select 2 to 5 times Select More than 5 times Select

April 28, 2022

STOP the Violence News & Updates

The City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Office exists to change the community narrative about violence and stop the spread of the disease of violence in the City. While we are concerned as well with the surrounding areas and will share solutions and events in those areas, we only have jurisdiction in the City. We would be pleased to share our knowledge and strategies with any jurisdiction outside of the City. Table of Contents Solutions & Success: Safer Firearm Storage Event Speaking Up: Mayor Ed Gainey-"We CAN change this culture" Solutions: Get Help Using StopTheViolence@PittsburghPA.Gov Archive: Mayor Ed Gainey-"YOU are the answer" Archive: Mayor Ed Gainey-"We want ZERO gun violence" Something You Can Do: Pray for Peace and Against Violence Training: Group Violence Intervention; Gun Violence and Public Health Webinar Series; Conflict Resolution Training and More Facts and Stats: From March 2022 Tips for You Coming Events Community Resources Please complete the 7 polls in this Newsletter. Please encourage the people in your networks to subscribe to the Newsletter. If anyone you forward the Newsletter to would unsubscribe, you will be unsubscribed as well (and would need to resubscribe to receive the Newsletter again). If you're interested in helping STOP the violence, please send us an email by clicking HERE. Sign up here to receive the monthly City of Pittsburgh STOP The Violence Newsletter

Solutions & Success Report:  Homewood Safer Firearm Storage Event Preventing gun accidents, suicides & gun thefts

You’ve seen the recent headlines and articles:     November 2021: Four-Year-Old Boy Dies After Accidentally Shooting Himself in East Liberty   April 2022: A 2-year-old picked up a gun and accidentally killed his 4-year-old sister Death by suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 10-34  April 2022: 50% of Firearms Recovered in Juveniles’ Possession in Pittsburgh Have Been Reported as Lost or Stolen

Zinna Scott President Zone 5 Public Safety Council

What can be done?  On Tuesday April 19, over 100 gun safes were provided to gun owners at an event in Homewood. A gun safe is a locking steel box designed for storing one or more firearms and ammunition. They cost from $100 to $150 and are primarily used to prevent access by unauthorized or unqualified persons (such as children), and to prevent firearms from being stolen. This event was sponsored by Children’s Hospital of Pitsburgh, the Zone 5 Public Safety Council, the University of Pittsburgh's Community Engagement Center, and the Equitrans Midstream Foundation.

Public Safety Council President Zinna Scott agreed to promote and host the event “because I don’t want to see children getting a hold of guns and shooting themselves or other people in their homes by accident. And so people could get some gun safety education.”

The idea for the event came from Christine Vitale, Manager of the Injury Prevention Program for Children’s Hospital.  She said “we did two events last year, one in Washington County, the other in Bridgeville. These were rural and suburban. We wanted to do one in the City.”  The Homewood event was their most successful to date – 113 safes were distributed. They actually ran out of safes on site and will deliver the remainder within the next few weeks.

Christine Vitale, MSN, RN Manager - Injury Prevention Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Education sessions at gun safe event

At the event, before receiving their free gun safe, each person visited 6 information tables to learn critical information on gun safety, suicide prevention, trauma, and other topics. At the final station, attendees are taught how to use their new gun safe. Christine said, “we have found that when most people think about violence, they think of street crime and robberies, but not suicide and there are more people dying of suicide than homicide. That’s why we do the educational sessions.

Just putting into place something like a gun safe that prevents an impulsive teenager or older person who may be a veteran or in some kind of mental health crisis from having quick access to a gun and gives them a minute to reconsider, can make a huge difference, especially with youth suicide.”

For Christine, “this is important because I have seen what violence does to families. This is low hanging fruit. If we save 1 person, we’re a success. A gunshot is truly the most violent of injuries, whenever a firearm goes off, it’s almost always horrible news. We see this at the hospital way too often – curious kids getting hold of a gun. We also want to make sure that a firearm doesn’t end up in the wrong hands and at the wrong end of a crime.”

Showing off new gun safes

Emily Embrey City of Pittsburgh SaferTogether Coordinator-Zones 1 and 5

Emily Embrey, SaferTogether Coordinator for police zones 1 and 5 for the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety said, “I hope it leads to fewer gun thefts and more conversations on proper gun storage. Parents should ask before their child goes to a house to play games or sleep over or for a party ‘is there a firearm in this house and is it safely secured?’ Most firearm owners are trained and responsible."

“Parents have a responsibility to their child to keep their child safe. Part of that includes knowing what dangers their children might be exposed to so the parent can make the appropriate choice for their child as to whether that place is a safe place for their child to be when the parent is not going to be there.”

Learning how to use the gun safe

Can you sponsor an event? Children's Hospital would like to partner with a group that can assist with a similar event in another City neighborhood in the fall. If you’re interested in hosting an event or donating for the events or for information on other gun safety programs at Children’s Hospital, just call or email Christine at 412-692-8229 or Christine.Vitale@chp.edu.   Special Note: For more on youth suicide, including a conference by UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital on May 6 (register by April 29) click: HERE.

Poll #2. Do you think the gun safe event will prevent violence? Absolutely Select Maybe Select No way Select

Poll #3: Would your group consider hosting a similar safe firearm storage event? Yes Select Perhaps Select No Select

Solutions:  Help Someone Using Email Address:  StopTheViolence@PittsburghPA.Gov    Are you aware of a NON-EMERGENCY situation involving at least one City of Pittsburgh resident that has the potential to turn violent but doesn’t yet need police attention? This could include a dispute, feud, insult, social media post, party, game, fight being planned or even a rumor. It could involve school students or adults of any age, men or women.

Do you know someone who needs a bit of help to avoid getting involved in activities that could lead to violence and someone becoming a statistic? Help might include advice, family assistance, recovery, support from peers, or even a place to go.    If you do, please contact the City of Pittsburgh's STOP the Violence Office using email address: StopTheViolence@PittsburghPA.Gov. When you send the email, please leave a few details and the neighborhood you are writing from. You will receive an initial response within 2 business days.    The City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Office has access to many resources and partner organizations who would be pleased to help you or your friend. The STOP the Violence Office is part of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety but is not the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.    THIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CALLIING 911 AND IS NOT AN EMERGENCY HOTLINE.     IF VIOLENCE IS READY TO BREAK OUT, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

Poll #4: Is the StopTheViolence@PittsburghPA.Gov email address a good idea? Yes Select No Select

Speaking Up: Mayor Ed Gainey "More people are coming forward and reporting things" "Reach out to us. We will try to connect you with every resource we've got."

Mayor Gainey continued his efforts to change the culture of violence at a community clean-up event in Homewood on Saturday, April 23, 2022 on Frankstown Avenue in front of House of Manna Faith Community. Here are excerpts of the Mayor’s talk:    We want to eliminate gun violence in the city. And that starts with all of us. We can’t do it without you. I want to thank the community, because we’ve got more people to come forward and report things than ever before.    The culture we leave the next generation can’t be blamed on them, it’ll be blamed on those that had a chance to change the game and refused to do so.

If you have an issue with kids in your neighborhood or your own kid, reach out to us. We will try to connect you with every resource we’ve got. We are all in.    We know what’s going on in these streets, whispering what’s going on. Talking about what’s going on. Give us the ability to do what we need to do. The only time we’ve ever had a change is when we’ve come together! I need you to look in the mirror and say here’s what I am going to do.    In order to change this culture, it takes all of us.  You can see the Mayor’s entire talk here:

Poll #5: Is Mayor Gainey right to keep speaking out about violence? Yes Select No Select

Archive: Mayor Ed Gainey "We want zero gun violence" Mayor Gainey again spoke eloquently and prophetically at the March 22, 2022 Homewood Community Meeting organized by the Mayor's Office and held at the Community Empowerment Association. Before a packed auditorium, Mayor Gainey stated that "We want zero gun violence".

Realizing that many in the audience might be skeptical of such a lofty goal, the Mayor continued by saying: "Some people will say that's unrealistic. But I say, is trying unrealistic? If the ancestors didn't try ... So do you still think it's unrealistic? Then let's go get it!" To see Mayor Gainey's entire 12 minute speech, please click on the box below. The entire meeting video is over an hour; however, Mayor Gainey mentions the zero violence goal around minute 15 (unfortunately, the sound quality is sometimes poor).

Archive: Mayor Ed Gainey "YOU are the answer" Mayor Gainey spoke at a February 11, 2021 Stop the Violence Prayer Vigil and Rally organized by the South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace. The Mayor made a few key points:

Mayor Ed Gainey

"There’s nobody coming in our neighborhoods to stop the violence except for the ones who live in the neighborhood. "If you want to stop this killing, don’t look around, look inside. "Until we adults get off social media arguing and fighting with one another like they’re 10 or 11 years old, but in the next sentence saying ‘we need peace’. Now how are you saying ‘we need peace’ while you’re on social media talking violence?  "We’ve got to change our ways. How are we going to save us when you hide in the silence? Somebody knows what’s happening in these killings. We look downtown to police to solve it, but we won’t cooperate.  It’s time for us to step up.  If you’d like to hear Mayor Gainey's entire talk, just click on the picture below.

Something You Can Do: Pray For Peace and Against Violence

Anyone can pray for peace and against violence either alone or as part of the STOP the Violence Prayer Team. If prayer is important to you, please pray whenever and wherever possible against violence.

According to Pastor Paul Roberts of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Liberty, regular praying "keeps peace in the mind and heart of out community. It causes us to discuss and ask questions like what should we be doing."

If you, your pastor or spiritual leader or your place of worship or church sign up for the non-denominational prayer team, you will receive periodic prayer request emails and notices about faith-based initiatives to prevent violence and increase peace in our community. You can sign up HERE.

Training: Group Violence Intervention +

Pittsburgh's Group Violence Intervention initiative (GVI) is a proven strategy to reduce shootings and homicides in urban neighborhoods by using a multi-aspect strategy: informed street outreach and social services to prevent violence, involved community members reinforcing community norms rejecting violence; and law enforcement in partnership with the community when other means are not effective. For additional information on GVI, including its history and rationale, see this hour-long webinar from Mayors Against Illegal Guns entitled Re-imagining Public Safety: Group Violence Intervention and Intimate Partner Intervention: Webinar. The password is: MAIGUn1versity! Pittsburgh’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) violence prevention strategy, including the complete logic model, was featured in the October 2021 STOP the Violence Newsletter which can be accessed HERE. Support and outreach for GVI are coordinated by Rev. Cornell Jones, Director of Outreach who can be contacted at cornell.jones@pittsburghpa.gov.

Webinar Series: Gun Violence and Public Health

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and Seattle Council President Lorena Gonzalez headed the list of speakers in a ten hour webinar on August 18 and 19, 2021 organized by the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College to help journalists and the public gain greater understanding on efforts to address the rising levels of gun violence in at-risk communities.

The series focused on prevention and intervention strategies. Leaders of community intervention strategies and programs in Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Sacramento discussed what is and isn’t working in their cities. Pittsburgh’s efforts compare quite favorably with these efforts.  The webinar consists of seven sessions, each lasting from 30 to 90 minutes. A table of contents is available so you can watch a particular session. Please take a look HERE.

Conflict Resolution Training If you would like more information on violence prevention and some suggestions on ways to be involved with anti-violence activities, please click on and watch the two-hour training video to the right. This training was conducted in January 2021. Our outreach teams include violence interrupters, but there are lots of other roles to play. After viewing the training video, please let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to be involved!

Webinar: Mind Always Matters For more on grief support and mental health, see: Mind Always Matters, a POISE Foundation Community Conversation recorded November 18, 2021 with Jessica Gurley, LCSW and Julius Boatwright, LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker).  This 75 minute discussion can be found HERE.

Webinar: How to Heal After a Homicide For an insightful discussion on healing from trauma and access to resources necessary to heal after a loss, experts Dr. Toya Jones (Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work) and Valerie Dixon (Director of Family and Community Support for the Center for Victims) see the recorded video: How to Heal After a Homicide. This 37 minute video was recorded in January 2022. Just click below to see the video:

Facts & Stats: From March 2022 Below are selected crime statistics from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. These statistics are from the period January 1 to March 31, 2022. These only cover the City, not any areas of Allegheny County which are outside of the City. A few notes can be found after the charts.

City of Pittsburgh Police Zones:

A few statistics of note:  Homicides increased from 15 in 2021 to 18 in 2022. Non-fatal shooting incidents increased from 23 in 2021 to 27 in 2022. 10 homicides in March 2022 is up from 6 in 2021. 10 non-fatal shooting incidents in March is the same as in 2021. There were no homicides in police zone 1 in March. The most homicides in March 2022 were in zones 3 and 5 (3 homicides in each zone). The most non-fatal shooting incidents in 2022 have been in zone 1. Using a public health approach to violence prevention means attempting to understand the proximate and secondary causes of violence and tailoring solutions to fit the impacted population. There is no one answer. If you are interested in working to change these statistics and increase the peace in the City of Pittsburgh, please click HERE to contact the STOP the Violence Office. What will you do to help?

Poll #6: Are the comments on the month's statistics useful for you? Yes Select No Select

Tips for You: #1: If you see something, say something Safety begins with all of us. By reporting suspicious activity in the places we go every day, we can protect ourselves, our neighbors and our property. By failing to report illegal or disruptive activities, we allow them to continue and sometimes get worse. This can jeopardize our own safety. When calling 911: • Stay calm and speak clearly • Know your exact location • Answer all the questions asked • When asked, explain what is occurring in detail • Follow all of the instructions you are given • Do not hang up until told to do so and stay close to your phone. A Telecommunications Operator might call you back. #2: Also call 311 to report non-emergency City concerns and questions The 311 Response Center is the City of Pittsburgh gateway to city services and addressing concerns. Requests are sent directly to the appropriate agency for resolution (Dept of Public Works, Dept of Permits, Licenses and Inspections, Police, etc.) Customers may remain anonymous. 311 is for NON-EMERGENCIES: • Graffiti, litter, illegal parking, overgrown weeds, parking or traffic issues, pot holes • Information on city events or neighborhood services • Boarding/Securing Abandoned Properties • Any non-emergency situations or behavioral trend you notice When you make a request: • Explain the problem completely • Remember to give an address • Use the tracking number to follow-up on your request By reporting these matters, you maintain the quality of life in your neighborhood and don't allow problems to linger and get worse. Calling 311 can enhance your safety.  Call Us If You Become Aware of a Dispute If you hear of a school, social media or community dispute that needs to be defused before it leads to violence, please let us know. We would like to take positive steps to resolve such disputes before law enforcement must be called. Please report any such disputes or issues to: STOP the Violence Office or text to 412-522-7286. Domestic Violence Help: Violence is not an acceptable method to resolve issues between friends or partners. If there are threats, please seek help! When in danger, call 911 immediately. Some other resources are in the Domestic Violence Resource Guide is reproduced below and can be accessed HERE.

March Poll Responses Poll #1: Do you like receiving the STOP the Violence Newsletter? Yes 92% No 8% Poll #2: Is Mayor Gainey's goal of "zero gun violence" worth pursuing? Yes 48% No 52% Po ll #3: Would you like to know more about GVI Support and Outreach? Yes 87% No 13% Poll #4: Are you interested in the funding opportunity mentioned above? Yes 64% No 26% Poll #5: Would your organization consider becoming a PIRC Movement partner? Yes 58% No 42% Poll #6: Are these statistics informative? Yes 89% No 11% Poll #7: Is the elimination of violence a goal worth pursuing? Yes 90% No 10% Thank you for responding. How will you help? Previous Newsletters Click on the dates below to find past issues of the City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Newsletter: MARCH 2022 FEBRUARY 2022 JANUARY 2022 DECEMBER 2021 NOVEMBER 2021 OCTOBER 2021 SEPTEMBER 2021 AUGUST 2021 JULY 2021 JUNE 2021 MAY 2021 APRIL 2021 MARCH 2021 FEBRUARY 2021 JANUARY 2021 DECEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 Do You Have Any Ideas? The Stop the Violence Newsletter is produced monthly by Jay Gilmer, Coordinator of the STOP the Violence Office of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety. Please send any ideas, notices or suggestions to: STOP the Violence Office.

Coming Events If you want to receive periodic event announcements or are aware of an anti-violence event that is open to the public, please click HERE to send us a notice or announcement. Thank you.

Liz Style President Zone 3 Public Safety Council

Zone 3 Public Safety Council Thursday April 28, 2022 (and every 4th Thursday) 6:00 pm 100% Virtual To connect click HERE

Zone 1 - Northside Public Safety Council Thursday May 5, 2022 (and every 1st Thursday) 5:30 pm In-Person at Propel Northside - 1805 Buena Vista Street, Pittsburgh 15202 & Virtual To request virtual connecting info, send an email HERE

A's Vision 3rd Annual Stop the Violence Softball Game Aaron Wade created A’s Vision in March of 2019 after the unexpected death of his son Aaron who was affectionately called “A”. Some of Wade’s most memorable bonding experiences with his son were when he was teaching him to drive. This inspired him to create A’s Vision, which teaches teens how to become responsible drivers. To date, Wade has helped over 20 teens obtain their driver’s licenses. To help further strengthen A’s Vision’s bond with the community and to honor his late son, Wade hosts an annual softball tournament. Details are below:

Community Resources If you are aware of an resource that can contribute to violence prevention or reducing the impact of violence, please click HERE to send us a notice or announcement. Thank you.

Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents 1-412-330-4328 Offering world-renowned expertise in evaluating and treating children who have experienced traumatic life events or live with post-traumatic stress disorder. A program of Allegheny Health Network.

Center for Victims Hotline: 1-866-644-2882 Caring, professional staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, answer questions, and provide support. You can also call: Valerie Dixon at the Center for Victims at 1-412-403-0194 or vdixon@venterforvictims.org. Darnell Drewery at the Center for Victims at 1-412-758-9237 or ddrewery@centerforvictims.org.

East Liberty Family Health Care Center 412-661-2802 A Federally Qualified Health Care Center providing a full range of medical, dental, pediatric, prenatal, and behavioral health services including staff therapists and workforce development.  Locations in East Liberty, Lincoln-Lemington and Wilkinsburg. Even if you don’t have insurance, please come.

Foundation of HOPE 540 Suismon Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Offering a variety of programs to prevent incarceration, chaplaincy and pre-release to serve individuals in Allegheny County Jail and aftercare to prevent recidivism. For information on their support community for reentering citizens, their families and community members, send an email HERE. Please call if you need help or want to help: Adult or Youth Diversion: 412-321-3343 Allegheny County Jail Chaplaincy: 412-350-2057 Allegheny County Jail Pre-Release: 412-350-1322 Jail or Prison Aftercare: 412-321-3343

GriefShare Numerous Locations in Allegheny County GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. GriefShare groups meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Each GriefShare session has three distinct elements: a video lesson, in-person group discussion, and personal reflection. This weekly group is free (just purchase the workbook online), open to anyone, and is offered in numerous locations in western Pennsylvania. The 13 week series features a video and optional discussion. To be part of the next series starting in early 2022, just find a location and sign up on the website at www.griefshare.org.

Highmark Caring Place 620 Stanwix Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 888-224-4673 As a peer support program, the Caring Place provides an environment where children, teens and adults can receive support from others their own ages who are going through very similar experiences, such as the loss of a parent or other loved one.

Jeremiah’s Place 6435 Frankstown Avenue 15206 (Larimer) 412-924-0726 Pittsburgh’s only crisis nursery. It provides emergency child care services for children ages 0-6 for a few hours or days based on the needs of each individual family. All services provided are free, available for 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Melanin Mommies Latrice “Phoenix” Rose started Melanin Mommies after watching how social media rallied around George Floyd, but no one mentioned his family members, who were also affected by grief and trauma. After doing a survey of families who lost someone, she realized that mental health services weren’t always offered to them. Even for those few families that received some counseling resources, they needed more for their families and children because the grief didn’t stop. Do you need help coping with your loss? Is your child struggling to cope with the loss of a parent or sibling? Please sign up for the next Melanin Mommies Mental Healing Cohort which starts in February 2022. It will meet for 12 weeks every Saturday at 10:30 am. For more information, see the Melanin Mommies Facebook page or contact Latrice Rose at at Info@melaninmommiespgh.org.

Men’s Huddle Group   Paul B. Jones, Sr. experienced the death of his 19 year old son Jeremiah in 2017. He formed The Men’s Huddle Group as a support group for fathers who have lost children to gun violence and otherwise. The Men’s Huddle Group meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Liberty (250 Highland Avenue, 15206 – across from Home Depot).   For additional information, contact Paul Jones via email at jonzboyz@aol.com or call anytime (24/7) at 412-613-1912.

The MOMS Group Support For Mothers Tina Ford of Clairton formed Mothers of Murdered Sons (The MOMS Group) after the loss of her son in 2019. The MOMS Group meets in Clairton on the third Saturday of each month. All are welcome, just call Tina in advance for the location. If transportation is a problem, just call Tina – MOMS sometimes arranges transportation or makes home visits to provide support.   For more information, see the MOMS Group Facebook page HERE or contact Tina Ford at 412-219-7157 or Momsgroup2020@gmail.com..

Neighborhood Resilience Project 412-261-1234   The Trauma Response Team cares for the acute needs of family and friends of homicide victims of gun violence across all of Allegheny County. Dan Emerick, MDiv, MSW – Trauma Response Team Manager

Other: Alma Illery Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Services Office: 412-244-4700 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s 24 hour Helpline: 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741 City of Pittsburgh Dept. of Public Safety’s Victims of Crime Office: 412-707-2988 Dr. Staci Ford: 412-277-4616 Jessica Gurley, LCSW: (412) 204-6934  RESOLVE Crisis Center - 24 hours: 1-888-796-8226

Teen Dating Violence Since one in three teens is a victim of teen dating violence, you probably know someone who has been a victim. Click HERE for resources on teen dating violence. Click on the picture for a Teen Dating Violence Action Action Guide.

Poll #7: Have you ever shared an issue of the STOP the Violence Newsletter with anyone? Yes Select No Select

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