STOP the Violence
News & Updates
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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
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Solutions: Grief and Trauma Support
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Solution: Free Gun Locks
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Something You Can Do: Pray for Peace and Against Violence
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Training: Group Violence Intervention; Gun Violence and Public Health Webinar Series; Conflict Resolution Training
- Facts and Stats
- Tips for You
- Coming Events
- Community Resources
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Solutions:
Grief & Trauma Support:
You CAN Overcome the Hurt
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Hurt People Hurt People
The pain of any loss can be overwhelming. When the loss is expected – like old age or disease – you know the pain is coming and can prepare for it. When the loss is unexpected – like an accident, suicide or street violence – it can be utterly devastating and you may feel like your life can’t go on. After any loss, you are hurting.
No matter what the cause of your pain, hurt or grief, there is help. A grief support group or therapist can help you through your dark hours.
It’s important for men to seek help, according to Paul B. Jones Sr., of the Men’s Huddle Group, because “men by nature keep things bottled up inside, due to pride or a level of ‘I can handle this myself’, we need to let go of this and reach out to other brothers and go through this grieving process together. Pain shared is pain overcome.”
Adds Tina Ford of The MOMS Group, “stop thinking that the therapist is your enemy. They are our friends. Find one. It’s not a black or white thing. Therapy is a way to release and unload the hurt so you can carry on with your life.”
“Even children need to know what therapy is and be introduced to it early so they can learn that having difficult emotions after a loss is normal. Emotions are healthy and therapeutic,” said Latrice Rose of Melanin Mommies.
The following are just a few of the resources available for men, women and children, survivors and friends, after a loss. They are all here to help and would like to hear from you if you’re hurting or know someone who is hurting.
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The MOMS Group
Tina Ford of Clairton formed Mothers of Murdered Sons (The MOMS Group) after the loss of her son in 2019. After this tragedy, Tina started meeting with other women for support because “I could feel myself spiraling down and wanted to know and understand the stages of grief.”
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Tina Ford, Founder
The MOMS Group
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The MOMS Group meets in Clairton on the third Saturday of each month. Their next meeting is December 18 – 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.
Beginning in January, The MOMS Group will be partnering with a group that supports moms of surviving sons and with ET3 (Empowering Teens to Thrive Program), a group that supports grieving children.
For more information, see the MOMS Group Facebook page HERE or contact Tina Ford at 412-219-7157 or Momsgroup2020@gmail.com..
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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. For the last 20 plus years, Paul has served as a PIAA Interscholastic Sports Official on both the state and local levels.
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Paul B. Jones, Sr., Founder
Men's Huddle Group
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Paul stated that “I knew within a month of my loss that if I didn’t start doing some grieving and helping other parents, especially dads, I would be locked and loaded to want to go out and do something wrong. One thing is for sure – hurt people hurt people. My goal is now to work closely with fathers who have the similar reality of losing a child to gun violence and/or otherwise as well as working with communities to let them know that dads need and desire support too.
“If a man doesn’t do any grief support, then the feelings can be passed on, sometimes in an aggressive form or they can provoke us to be rude and introverted to the wrong people. The whole grief process will cause us to shut down and shut out the wrong people. It can turn into violence.”
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At a Huddle Group meeting, everything said is confidential, everyone’s opinions and experiences are valued and nobody is forced to speak. Paul made clear that “this is not a 12-step group, it’s peer support – run by and for fathers, not professionals, so there should be no fear of being psychoanalyzed. Just come when you need to and share when you’re ready. You are not alone.”
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.
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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.
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Latrice Rose, Founder
Melanin Mommies
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Latrice, a mental health first aid instructor and social work graduate student at Carlow University, partners with therapists, including lead therapist Jessica Gurley, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), to offer a Black Mothers Mental H.E.A.L.ING Cohort which seeks to support Black Mothers who have experienced a significant loss due to gun violence, while also supporting children who have lost their parents and other relatives to gun violence.
From its last cohort, Latrice has “seen lots of positive impact: mothers showing up and being vulnerable, putting a name on their pain. Starting to heal. Speaking about their pain. Realizing it’s important to show up and get these feelings off their chests and need to share. These steps are necessary to address and overcome intergenerational trauma and combat negative family cycles.
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“Family members of someone who is killed often don’t have time to grieve; often they must go back to work. We want mothers that have lost children to grieve and heal so they don’t perpetuate the cycle of violence through their other children and through the decisions they make. Often when gun violence happens there’s a woman involved, whether it’s jealousy or a set-up, but something’s happening. We want to help these mothers and families from all aspects, but first and foremost from the mental health aspect.”
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.
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GriefShare
Sheran Zellous White knows grief and trauma. Her son, William James White, Jr., was killed in 2007 at age 29, two grandsons died in a fire at ages 4 and 10, her husband died of a heart attack, and another grandson died while incarcerated. Sheran now works to help others overcome their grief and trauma as facilitator of the GriefShare group at Allegheny Center Alliance Church, 250 East Ohio Street (15212), on Pittsburgh’s Northside.
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Sheran Zellous White, Facilitator
GriefShare at
Allegheny Center Alliance Church
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For Sheran, grief support is important because “when you are experiencing grief, you feel alone and as if you’re the only person that realizes the extent of the pain. When you’re part of a group, and you’re surrounded by people experiencing exactly what you’re experiencing, that is the beginning of starting to build normal. |
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“GriefShare’s objectives are (1) to point them towards the Lord, where true help comes from, and (2) to realize that what they’re experiencing is not abnormal, but is normal. Without support, then people might look for other ways to suppress their pain, medicate their pain or run from their pain.
“For someone who has lost someone to gun violence, which I have, you can get caught up in ‘who’ and ‘why’ it occurred, since someone took my child’s life. After a while, you begin to start thinking about taking care of yourself. It can take years to emerge from grieving, and although there's always some pain, it’s not as intense. My first loss was my son and it took years to realize that I needed to deal with that.”
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.
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Mind Always Matters Webinar
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).
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This 75 minute discussion can be found HERE.
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#1. Do you know anyone, including yourself, who could benefit from grief support?
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#2. Is there anyone you can refer this information to?
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Solution:
Free Gun Locks
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PITTSBURGH, PA (November 23, 2021) - In an effort to minimize accidental shootings and help all residents be responsible gun owners, The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is providing free gun locks for all members of the public while supplies last.
The locks are available at all zones within the city, and at Police Headquarters on Western Avenue.
Gun locks are a crucial part of the effort to curb accidental shootings by preventing children from discharging a firearm and injuring themselves or others. Oftentimes, effort by parents or guardians to obtain a gun lock and properly secure a gun can prevent tragedy.
“Taking five to ten minutes to place the lock on a gun could potentially save a life,” said Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich. “That’s what we’re trying to get out to the public today, that these locks are available.”
Hissrich added that learning to use a gun lock is a simple process. The device laces through the magazine chamber into the ejection port before locking in place. Keys should always be kept away from children or placed in a secured location, like a vault.
To view a demonstration on proper use of a gun lock, click HERE.
Locks may be picked up at Pittsburgh Police Headquarters or at any of the 6 Pittsburgh Police Zones. For addresses, click HERE.
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#3. Is there anyone you know that needs a gun lock?
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Something You Can Do:
Pray For Peace and Against Violence
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Stopping violence will take the efforts of the entire community. The ultimate objective of the City’s STOP the Violence office is to convert a culture of violence into a culture of non-violence. One way anyone can participate is by praying for peace and against violence either alone or as part of the STOP the Violence Prayer Team. |
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“I believe that prayer changes things and the more people praying for the same things, the better,” said the Reverend Cornell Jones, formerly a chaplain at Western Penitentiary and now the Director of Outreach for the City of Pittsburgh Group Violence Intervention initiative.
If prayer is important to you, please pray whenever and wherever possible for peace and against violence.
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 out community.
If you would like to play a leadership role in this effort, please let us know by sending an email HERE.
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#4. Can you pray for peace and against violence?
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Training:
Group Violence Intervention +
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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.
The non-law enforcement elements of GVI are coordinated by Rev. Cornell Jones, Director of Outreach who can be contacted at cornell.jones@pittsburghpa.gov.
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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. |
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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.
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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!
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Facts & Stats:
From October 2021
Below are selected crime statistics from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. These statistics are from the period January 1 to October 31, 2021. These only cover the City, not any areas of Allegheny County which are outside of the City.
A few statistics of note from January to October 2021:
- There have been 47 homicides and 143 non-fatal shooting incidents this year.
- Homicides are up 10% from 2020 and up 37% from 2019.
- 4 homicides total in September and October is the lowest for any two month period since January and February 2019.
- Non-fatal shooting incidents are up 37% from 2020 and up 43% from 2019.
- 11 non-fatal shooting incidents is about the same as last year.
- Zone 2 had 5 non-fatal shooting incidents and 1 homicide in October - more shootings than in any other police zone.
- Zones 1, 3, 4 and 5 had no homicides in October.
- Zones 2 and 6 had 1 homicide in October.
- Zone 2 had 5 non-fatal shooting incidents in October, Zone 5 had 4 and Zones 3 and 6 had 1 each in October.
The causes of shootings are many, so the solutions will vary. Using a public health approach 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 negative statistics, please click HERE to contact the STOP the Violence Office.
What will you do to help?
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City of Pittsburgh Police Zones |
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Tips for You:
#1: Keep Your Property Clean and Neat
Research indicates that properties, blocks and streets that appear unkept, messy or unattended tend to attract crime.
Do your part by keeping your property and sidewalk clean and help your neighbors do the same.
#2: Get Involved in Your Neighborhood
An informed neighbor is an asset for any neighborhood. By paying attention, knowing your elected officials and first responders, you can make sure your neighborhood gets the attention it deserves from the City of Pittsburgh.
Seek out those opportunities to meet, including Zone Public Safety Councils which tend to meet monthly.
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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.
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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.
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October Survey Responses
Survey #1:
How well do you think you understand the GVI logic model?
- Quite well 42%
- A bit 42%
- I don't understand at all 16%
Survey #2:
Are you interested in learning more about the GVI logic model?
Survey #3:
Do you like to receive Coming Events information separately from the rest of the Newsletter?
Thank you for responding.
How will you help?
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Previous Newsletters
Click on the dates below to find past issues of the City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Newsletter:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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412-661-2802
Staff therapists and a chaplaincy department. Even if someone doesn’t have insurance, please come. Locations in East Liberty, the Hill District and Lincoln-Lemington.
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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
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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. Check the website for location information.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Dr. Staci Ford: 412-277-4616
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Jessica Gurley, LCSW: (412) 204-6934
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RESOLVE Crisis Center - 24 hours: 1-888-796-8226
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#5. Would you prefer shorter STOP the Violence Newsletters that are delivered more frequently?
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Sign up here to receive the monthly City of Pittsburgh
STOP The Violence Newsletter
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