Apr 27, 2022

Weekly Brief on Gun Violence Prevention in Philadelphia

By The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting • Issue #43 • View online

Each Wednesday morning we share news, research, data, opinions and community responses related to gun violence and prevention in Philadelphia.

Mothers in Charge

• The community at Mothers in Charge is planning a peace walk and rally in advance of Mothers Day. Register to participate on May 5. [Mothers in Charge/eventbrite]

My Son Khaaliq Was Killed Over a Parking Space. Now I Help Other Mothers Grieve.

• Learn about Mothers in Charge founder Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight and her journey in a new profile published this week.

www.themarshallproject.org • Share

From Retribution to 'Healing': Changing How We Help Crime Survivors

• Both Mothers in Charge and Philadelphia’s CHARLES Foundation were highlighted on another national platform this week.

thecrimereport.org • Share

• Mothers in Charge also received federal support this week for their PIE initiative: for prevention, intervention and education. [CBS3]

On the media

Watch now: Save Our Streets

• Our Director or Research Dr. Jessica Beard discussed our work last week on this panel of local experts addressing gun violence in Philadelphia.

www.fox29.com • Share

Transforming Crime Reporting Into Public Safety Journalism

• A new course from The Poynter Institute for Media Studies “will guide local journalists through a process to reimagine crime reporting.”

www.poynter.org • Share

• Local reporters have been expressing frustrations with the remote and controlled nature of the city’s biweekly gun violence briefings. [@JoeHoldenCBS3/@KristenJohanson]

• Watch for yourself: The commissioner of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services has been added to the agenda for the city’s Virtual Update on Gun Violence Response this afternoon. Listen live at 1 p.m. on WURD Radio 900 AM / 96.1 FM or watch live online. [Facebook]

Gun violence prevention journalism

• ICYMI: You can listen on Twitter Spaces to WHYY’s community conversation yesterday on “Resolving Conflict: Tactics to Prevent Shootings.” Follow them on Twitter for a link to next Tuesday’s session: “Getting to the Root: Addressing the Cultural Causes Behind Gun Violence.” [Twitter Spaces/@WHYYNews]

Research recap

“I think we really have to start treating gun violence as the public health crisis that it is and that means we need to better understand the underlying causes and how to address it really by tackling the structural issues that make it such a problem in our city and others like it. - Dr. Iman Afif discussing new research we shared last week

Situation report

“During the city’s record-breaking shootings toll last year, just one in seven nonfatal shootings led to an arrest. The rest remain unsolved.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer

As National Victims Rights Week kicks off, Philadelphia’s gun violence shows no sign of slowing down

“In addition to those killed and physically injured, the violence traumatizes hundreds more residents, including witnesses, friends, and families.”

whyy.org • Share

Philadelphia shootings: Philly is averaging 1.5 homicides per day

• There were 10 homicides and 27 non-fatal shootings in Philadelphia last week.

6abc.com • Share

Fatal Shootings In East Frankford Leaves Community Thinking About Times Before Nonstop Gun Violence

“He was sitting there and the other one was smoking a cigarette, and they just heard gunshots, and you hear it, you don’t respond to it, just another shooting in Frankford.”

philadelphia.cbslocal.com • Share

City Council wants the next budget to fix ‘black hole’ created by quality-of-life problems, from trash to broken streetlights

• City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said quality-of-life issues are hitting neighborhoods with high levels of gun violence the hardest.

www.inquirer.com • Share

“Students are petrified to go to school or come back to school.” - Northeast High School student Armando Ortez

Firearms overtook auto accidents as the leading cause of death in children

• For decades, auto accidents have been the leading cause of death among children, but in 2020 guns were the No. 1 cause, researchers say.

whyy.org • Share

“Groups are looking to fund youth summer programs with a whatever-it-takes urgency that is still lacking from officials in a city buckling under an unrelenting string of shootings.” - Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Helen Ubiñas

Action plans

• Congressman Dwight Evans announced an ambitious, $51 billion plan to tackle the nation’s gun violence epidemic at its roots last week in Philadelphia. State Senator Art Haywood has a six-part plan for the city. [WHYY/evans.house.gov/The Philadelphia Tribune]

By the numbers

30: People shot last week in Philadelphia, down from 64 shooting victims during the previous week.

[data.phila.gov @PCGVR]

662: Total Philadelphia shooting victims reported to police this year through Monday, slightly ahead of last year’s pace.

[Open Data Philly via PCGVR]

152: Year-to-date total homicides reported to Philadelphia Police through last night.

67: Year-to-date homicides recorded in Philadelphia as of the same date in 2015.

[PhillyPolice.com]

90: Percent increase in gunshot wound patients entering the emergency department at Temple University Hospital.

[WHYY]

City responds

• Applications are now open for the next round of Targeted Community Investment Grants supporting programs and activities focused on violence prevention and intervention in Philadelphia. [PHENND/Google Docs]

Curfew centers working in some Philadelphia neighborhoods despite violations doubling from last year

• Curfew centers - or community resource centers - are helping give teens a safe space to go amidst violence in Philadelphia.

6abc.com • Share

• Community listening tour continues to inform next update to the Philadelphia Roadmap for Safer Communities There’s a meeting tonight in West Philadelphia. [Phila.gov via @RepMcClinton]

• The Philadelphia Police Department posted info on the case clearance process and how to submit a tip. [Phila.gov]

Advocates in action

Rally Against Gun Violence At Pennsylvania State Capitol

• The group, CeaseFirePA has named Tuesday Taking a Stand Against Gun Violence Advocacy Day.

philadelphia.cbslocal.com • Share

Zaf #StopTheGunViolence Qasim 🇵🇰🇬🇧🇺🇸 on Twitter:

“Just a couple of @penn @UPennEM docs in Harrisburg advocating for change to reduce the terrible burden of #GUNviolence @Chidi_MD”

twitter.com • Share

PA Office of Victim Advocate

@PAVictimsOffice

Gun homicides spiked 39% in 2020, reaching a deadly milestone, shared @CeaseFirePA today at the Capitol.

Community violence preventions program interrupt cycles or violence through outreach and engagement.

#crimeprevention #listentosurvivors #bethevoice https://t.co/gNPRr9hyvt

4:15 PM - 26 Apr 2022

In the community

NOMO Foundation to open and operate youth transitional housing program in West Philly

• The NOMO Foundation is expanding its anti-violence program with a newly acquired apartment building.

www.fox29.com • Share

Kendra Brooks

@KendraPHL

To address gun violence and years of disinvestment, we must adequately fund the city services that keep our neighbors safe.

Communities that have been neglected for years demand clean streets, regular trash pick up, working street lights, & safe, green corridors. #JustServices https://t.co/aj0OpoVlKn

1:31 PM - 21 Apr 2022

Across the river

“It’s not fair that day after day members of our New Jersey family are being shot and it is outrageous that the state government in Trenton isn’t doing everything it can to stem this tide of gun violence.” - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy

Solutions of the Week

Could planting gardens be the key to preventing shootings? These Grays Ferry residents are giving it a go

• Transforming vacant lots has shown some promise for slowing violence.

whyy.org • Share

Opinion: The surprising solution to gun violence

“By teaching young people to slow down during stressful situations, it helps them navigate in-the-moment decisions that could otherwise lead to violence.”

www.cnn.com • Share

Economics

Mapping gun violence: A closer look at the intersection between place and gun homicides in four cities

• Notably, poverty alone was not a predictive factor for high rates of gun homicides, but rather the intersection between poverty, racial segregation, and systemic disinvestment.

www.brookings.edu • Share

Dick’s Sporting Goods Followed Its Conscience on Guns—and It Paid Off

• The chain’s revenues ultimately recovered through other sales in subsequent quarters. Profitability also picked up given the improved margins of merchandise that replaced guns.

hbswk.hbs.edu • Share

In memoriam

Isaiah Jewett, 22: 'He was the ultimate gentleman'

“He was a blessing, he was my blessing. I loved seeing him in daddy mode.“

www.phillyobitproject.com • Share

Philadelphia 76ers Fan Shot Dead on Food Run During Watch Party

“He was funny. He made you laugh. He just would pop over just to say, ‘Hey aunty. How you doing? He was a good kid.”

www.nbcphiladelphia.com • Share

Parents mourn a ‘fine young man’ as police search for their son’s killer

“Stevie was one of those young brothers who strove to fulfill his goals and to make his parents proud, and to make his sister and family proud.“

www.inquirer.com • Share

Yaseem Jenkins death: 3-year-old boy dies after surviving 2019 shooting

“He was the happiest baby you ever met in your life. He was joy.”

6abc.com • Share

For more info, please visit:

The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting

Exploring the hypothesis that changing the way journalists and news organizations report on gun violence can prevent shootings and save lives.

www.pcgvr.org • Share

Did you enjoy this issue?

By The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting

Reporting on gun violence comes with exceptional challenges, responsibilities and opportunities. The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting wants to help.

Tweet

Share

In order to unsubscribe, click here.

If you were forwarded this newsletter and you like it, you can subscribe here.