That's why Stephanie Johnson said she came to the Heston Gardens Saturday afternoon at 55th and Baker streets for a community party that also served as a healing event.
"Bring the people together, everyone can see that we can be as one, you don't have to be violent," she said.
Two weeks ago, seven people were wounded in a shooting at Baker Playground, which is right across the street from Heston Gardens.
Organizers of Saturday's event say they wanted to show residents they don't have to be afraid to leave their homes.
"To make sure people understand we're not conceding the ground to a small portion of folks who want to create chaos," added City Councilman Curtis Jones, one of the organizers. "There are more good people in this neighborhood than ever will be bad and we're going to continue to flood this neighborhood with good things."
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He and other city officials joined police officers at this party as well as the dozens of community members. They ate together, listened to music together played games together and just simply spent time together.
"It makes me feel like a community," Jones said when asked how he feels seeing everyone interact. "My granddaughter plays here, she's got to feel safe here and we have to provide that atmosphere."
Jones said the city wants to work to improve Baker Playground for the neighborhood youth.
KYW Newsradio also spoke with Samir Hill, who has lived in this area his whole life and loves giving back.
"I do stuff in the community like basketball games, sneaker drives, on Thanksgiving I give away turkeys," he said.
There was a basketball tournament after the party at Baker Playground, and the players in Hill's league were honored for never being involved in any violent incidents.