HomeMy WebLinkAboutStudy Committee to Reduce Gun Violence Minutes 081420Study Committee to Reduce Gun Violence
Minutes
Friday, August 14, 2020 – 10:00 am
Via Zoom
1. Welcome – Shakira Williams, Chair
2. Roll Call – Taisha Steele, Secretary
Present: Shakira Williams, Courtney Penn, Nicole Ross, Ryan Bell, Rev. David Jones,
Joshua Johnson, Bishop Jamaal Jackson, Stacey Sheppard, Troy Gusler, Yvonne Thomas,
Rev. Tim Harvey, Vice Mayor Joe Cobb
3. Minutes from the July 17 and 31 meetings were approved. Motion: Nicole Ross; Second:
Rev. Tim Harvey. Motion passed.
4. The Study Committee received an update from the Roanoke Police Department on
current data related to incidents of gun violence. Committee members asked for
additional data related to suicides, accidental deaths, gun thefts (juvenile #s),
geographical locations of gun shots/incidents, consistent commonalities of offenders
(residents and non-residents)
5. Working Groups moved into Break Out Sessions to continue work on identifying SMART
Goals for Recommendations and Budget Recommendations
Safer Neighborhoods (Nicole Ross, Natasha Saunders)
Education (Taisha Steele, Ryan Bell)
Reducing Gang Violence and Recidivism (Antwyne Calloway, Rabbi Kathy Cohen)
City Services and Rapid Response (Shakira Williams, Stacey Sheppard)
Marketing and Communications (Courtney Penn)
6. Working Group facilitators reported back regarding updates:
Safer Neighborhoods – developing video of local community members reading Little
Blue Truck for use in K-3 classrooms in Roanoke City Public Schools
Education – brainstormed potential partners in development of educational curriculum
Gang Violence and Recidivism Reduction – received information from Dan Bubar, U.S.
Assistant District Attorney, on the C.A.R.E. Initiative, Project Safe Neighborhood, the role
of prosecution, the GRAEP education program, and the collaborative efforts in Danville
toward addressing and reducing gang activity and violence. The group agreed to invite
Mr. Robert David, Youth Gang Prevention Coordinator, Danville, to speak at the next
working group meeting.
City Services and Rapid Response began developing a list of key services to be made
available through the Rapid Response Team and received an update on the Mitigation
Coordinator position.
Communications and Marketing will hold a stakeholders’ strategic session in September
to more fully develop a comprehensive marketing strategy.
7. Next Steps and Meeting Dates – Friday, August 28, 2020 – 10:00 am
8. The meeting was adjourned by Chair Shakira Williams.