CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Anti-violence groups from around Chicago have met to better coordinate their efforts to lessens the shootings and murders in their neighborhoods.
The Violence Prevention 2022 event was led by the groups Chicago CRED, Communities Partnering for Peace and READI Chicago. They and other organizations gave progress reports and talked about the summer ahead.
Yolanda Fields, Director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, said it was an inspirational gathering.
"It is invigorating to know that all of the things that we talked about-the stats we've seen actually represents the work that we are actually doing,"
She stressed that what the organization does is about so much more than helping people stay safe and sound.
"Let's be clear about that. People in Chicago want to do more than just be safe."
Fields said Chicagoans want well-maintained parks and streets, jobs with livable wages, medical care, and access to good schools for their children as well.
Towards the end, Frank Perez, director of Violence Intervention and Prevention Services for the UCAN Organization said the coordination this summer will be crucial.
"We can not stop the violence on our own. We think we're the only ones who can do this, when we know for a fact there are many other organizations that can help us," he said.
"Jesus ain't coming down from heaven to save our community. He expects us to do some work. We have to be the ones to change the mindset of these young men and women, who are killing each other."
A top State Human Services Department official was there to stay the state has multiplied its funding for anti-violence efforts like these.
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