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Home My WebLink AboutGVPC Minutes 09.19.23Roanoke City Gun Violence Commission/ Community Stakeholders Meeting 09-19-23 530pm Meeting Minutes Williamson Road Library Roanoke VA Commissioners Present: Stacey Sheppard, Nicole Ross, Joe Cobb, Elliot Major, Shakira Williams, Decca Knight, Tim Harvey, Eric Anderson, Kathy Cohen Commissioners Absent: Topic (Agenda Item) Notes from Discussion Roll Call See roll call above Quorum present Approval of Minutes from July 18 2023 Motion: Kathy 2nd: Tim Motion passes Activity Each attendee was asked to take two post it notes and share- (related to Gun Violence) i. Good things happening ii. Gaps Old Business ○ Working groups updates (all with prevention, intervention and response focus) Community /Neighborhood Engagement Grants/Sustainability/Funding Research/Education Joe asked that attendees sign up for working groups to aid the work of the commission and community efforts New Business Pastor Harper Central Baptist Church Presentation (Faith, Hope, Love) Operation Cease Fire Pastor Tyler Hill Street Baptist Church Presentation (each one reach one) Operation Cease Fire FAITH HOPE LOVE initiative with several Pastors to work together and bring the Faith community together. Developed the Cease Fire in the Valley (Victory in the Valley) with the Sheriff’s Office to aid the work of gun violence prevention. Necole Holton Jacobs, VP Elite Business Strategies- New Assessment Review of the Older Assessment New team- a full team with also, Dr. Kourtney Byrd (focus in trauma and violence) data analyst Student included on the team Steering committee serving; vetting of the objective ● Eric Anderson ● Chris Roberts ● Lloyd Merchant ● Antinette Beane ● Jabari Webb ● Valerie Koeppel ● Heather Gunn ● Jeffrey Powell Timeline- presented on next steps This time there were be only two surveys ● One for youth and young adults 11-25 years old ● One for community stakeholders ● Interviews will be conducted again but, this will be direct dialogue and, not use the DOJ survey like they used last time for better data ● Business community interviews/outreach for input on the assessment Ninah.Pierce@ebsleaders.com for interview scheduling Mike Bento- Presentation Implementation of campaign of “What’s Good Roanoke” Strategy behind the campaign, built behind focus groups and, the community assessment from Elite Business Strategies, is to elevate all that is going on (resources and, what is good to Roanoke) Spotlight good things, places, resources, 3 -4 things a week that are available Success will be measured by families engaging in resources that are available Challenges, communicating them all out to families and sharing of the information There will be a website and, QR codes with social media blast and, paid ads Ask- share the information- drive the information of what is available Work with local media and share access to resources Partnering with 5 points (Bruce Bryan) This campaign will continue through the new year Rachel Hopkins, CHIP Creating a resource and repository specific to gun violence (one stop shop) for what is available to families Roanoke Police Department, Acting Chief Stokes Update on GV Statistics 20 incidents thus far homicides involving a firearm 2 where there multiple victims (Brandon and Melrose) 34 incidents where people were struck by gunfire Looking at victimology; concentration of homicides and agg. Assaults heavily concentrated 77% in African American men, age range is spread out 29% under 21, 22.7% of homicide victims under 21 (shift of age range in victims) Offender analysis- 4 cases pending grand jury indictments (11 of 22) 50% rate with 4 pending cases to grand jury Agg. Assaults 26/43 clearance rate with offender identified Starting to see some shifts in crime movement, SW is a hot spot (Melrose hot spot –remains) Overall crime (general crime) is down 11% Violent crime is down 8% (all violence included) Property crimes are also down 11.5% Initiatives that Governor and VA State Police have mentioned to help Roanoke (Bold Blue Line) Federal Partners have all increased activity to aid Roanoke Police and enforcement and gun violence. 20 + Troopers within the City to aid RPD with hot spots and area(s). Analyst are working to constantly review data and patrols to shift needs 7 firearms recovered this past weekend Continual work to be done Interpersonal violence needs to be addressed as well as the gang violence We are trending similarly with ages and ranges for violence, a shift to use firearms to solve problems as a national trend Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Unit Update- Chris Roberts Chris introduced Mr. Jabari Webb to the group for a new outreach worker (July 25th 2023) A second position hoping to be hired very soon Evaluation of the mentoring program of what is effective and, what needs to be reworked RESET update- Lloyd Merchant Month of August 6 areas of deployment all of which were homicide(s) Harrison Ave- request of police presence increase Melrose Ave- request of police presence increase King George Ave SW- opinions and concerns over boarding trains and speeding Patton Ave NW- (100-400 block) gratitude was conveyed by residents Westside Blvd (400 blk.) desire for improved police response and trauma resources Panorama Ave NW desire for more cameras and police patrols Renegotiation is happening with YMCA to continuation of aid to high risk youth Box Fit is still happening for a safe outlet and confidence skill building for high risk youth Teen Cohort, Oct 5th Start date- to continue a new one Apprentice program Star City Safe- Jeffrey Powell Introduced Christine Gist BRBH- RPA and Resiliency Collective NW healing conference review Nov 11th- Youth Focus event NW event Jonathan Pate YMCA- Gainsboro Beacons program 40 kids summer camp middle school expose them to creative safe space Josh Johnson- Roanoke City Schools- Elizabeth ?- Shifting Paradigms Consulting Group Cheryl Mosley United Way- Young Docs program, medical pathway mentoring program, 1st chapter here in Roanoke, Young men can start in 8th grade to graduation from HS and then post grad. 4 men to start. Summer academy stayed at Howard University. Work closely with the families to aid them as well. Nicole Ross TAP- Baseball and summer youth programs Apostle Johnson Valerie Koeppel- Carilion VIRS Violent Injury and Recovery Services Program Work with families for GSW, Stabbing, and violence injuries. Help them for up to one year after injury. Work to help them with long term goals. Denise Teehan -Office of Attorney General Western Cease Fire Coordinator Intervention Prevention Prosecution Funding, training, resources to aid communities Working with RPD to aid Announcements Tim Harvey-The Roanoke area Churches of the Brethren are sponsoring a prayer walk in the Gainsboro Neighborhood in recognition of the International Day of Prayer for Peace, Thursday Sept 21st. Beginning at the Gainsboro Library at 6:30 p.m., our two-mile walk will include short visits and prayers at 5 historic Black churches in the neighborhood. The community is invited to attend. Adjournment 7:00 pm adjourn