PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — "We need a solution. We just don't need talk. We need action. We need action."
The frank words of DeWayne Drummond, co-founder of the West Philadelphia community group We Embrace Fatherhood, reflect much of the mixed reaction to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's announcement that $15 million will be allocated to community groups throughout the commonwealth to fight gun violence.
In West Philadelphia Thursday, Wolf stressed that more gun violence prevention measures will be coming soon, but that the problem is statewide and not just in Philadelphia, which saw a record number of homicides in 2021.
While some people who gathered Friday at the Lucien Blackwell Community Center in the Mill Creek neighborhood said they think the funding is a good move, others are fed up and are looking for real change.
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Michelle Nelson lives in West Philadelphia and works for the Upper Darby School District. Her son was recently wounded in a drive-by shooting.
She said she just wants to see the money used appropriately.
“Fund the schools. Give the kids what they need," Nelson said.
"There’s not enough books. They need new desks. When you give a school an upgrade, maybe you can change the attitudes of the children’s way of learning.”
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Samaya Ward concurred that the schools need the money.
“Last time I checked, programs were taken out of schools. These are critical programs that the kids actually need, so I think our focus should be on getting the kids something that will stimulate their minds," said Ward.
"I'm ready for action. Honestly, I don’t know what this is, but I do know that we need to be more involved in our community.”
Rose Bryant helps run the programs in the community center. She said it’s a good first step.
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"I was very pleased with it. I wish it was more because you can always use more, but you've got to start somewhere," said Bryant, but with a request.
"Don't waste it. Use it to help these young people. Come up with some new and different ideas, something that the kids want to do."
Many said they would like to see what impact the cash infusion will truly have on the community. But they simply want action to combat the city’s gun violence.
"We want to know, when is this gonna stop?" Drummond asks. "Everybody’s hearts out here are bleeding.”
