PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Residents in high crime areas of Philadelphia say they are exhausted and tired of prayers without action on violence. In the first five months of 2022, the number of homicides in Philadelphia was just 3% less than the amount at the same time last year, a record-breaking year for homicides in the city.
Christian faith leaders in the heart of some of the city’s most crime-ridden neighborhoods have joined forces in an attempt to quell the tide of gun violence. About 25 pastors, deacons, and supporting community group members will take to the streets in a 30-day violence interruption initiative called “Corners to Connection.”
Every night in June from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., leaders and advocates will engage with individuals on street corners in areas throughout Nicetown-Tioga, Northwest Philadelphia, and North Philadelphia, and connect them to employment, trauma care, faith-based resources, and other social services.
G. Lamar Stewart, the senior pastor of Taylor Memorial Baptist Church and founder of Taylor Made Opportunities, is leading the effort to prevent and interrupt the cycle of gun violence and poverty through mentoring, advocacy, development, and education.
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"We recognize that we have a responsibility to be present, that we have a responsibility to bring prayer to the community,” said Stewart.
“We have a responsibility to bring provisions to the community, and we have a responsibility as a faith community to bring peace.”
Though they will be engaging with individuals in the late-night hours in areas considered “hot spots” for violent crime, Stewart said he doesn't expect to encounter any problems in the program that is expanding from last June's efforts.
"We didn't have any incidents for those 30 days. In fact, on the corners we spent time on, there were no shootings in that general area each night, zero shootings. So we believe not only will we be safe, but we will deter crime," Stewart said.
“Ironically enough they didn't walk away, they walked to us. You know what they said? 'We're glad to see you all out here. Nobody else comes out here, especially without cameras or at night,'" said Donnell Drinks, the co-founder of G.R.O.W.N. - Gaining Respect Over Our Worst Nights, a Philadelphia-based organization designed to keep youth out of the justice system. He was involved in the pilot program for Corners to Connection.
During the announcement of this initiative, Aliya Catanch-Bradley, principal of Mary McLeod Bethune School, spoke about the gun violence epidemic and how students and teachers alike are concerned about what may come this summer.
She said the rise in violent crime has made this one of the most difficult school years on record. Through May 31, 92 children have been shot in Philadelphia this year. 18 of them died.
"Although this is a time where you will see teachers begin to tap dance, they are also very concerned because we want every child that we have to come back in September, ready to learn and safe from harm,” said Catanch-Bradley.
On Father’s Day, June 19, the group has scheduled a 100 Fathers peace march. It is set to begin at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church on Germantown Avenue in Hunting Park, and end at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church on West Culter Street in Germantown.
You can hear more about "Corners to Connection" on this week's Bridging Philly podcast. For that and more from KYW Newsradio:
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