Following the devastating loss of six Sacramentans to gun violence, Black Child Legacy Campaign leaders have penned an open letter to local decision-makers about the importance of community-led violence prevention efforts.
April 8, 2022
Sacramento County and City Leadership,
RE: Calling for Significant Commitments to Community-Led Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention
The devastation of Sunday’s mass shooting will reverberate through the region for years. We mourn alongside the community, which has seen far too many tragedies. Sadly, this tragedy is one of many experienced recently. We are deeply frustrated that violence prevention has not been addressed with the urgency this crisis deserves.
For the past six years, our coalition of community leaders and crisis intervention workers has supported our neighbors impacted by the traumas of violence, poverty and racism. Every day we engage in crisis intervention, mediation, mentorship and service. We were there with the families of the six victims on Sunday. And we will remain beside them, as they grieve their loved-ones, by ensuring access to mental health services, ongoing wraparound care, burial support, and a feeling of safety and community. Our long-term work, which predates the coalition for many of us, is how we know how vital it is the city and county immediately expand community-led violence prevention and crisis response services.
We deserve meaningful, long-term investments in Arden Arcade, Del Paso Heights and North Sacramento, Foothill Farms-North Highlands, Fruitridge and Stockton, Meadowview, Oak Park, Valley Hi and other neighborhoods. Until we recognize community economic development, youth engagement and violence prevention and interruption as city and county-wide investment priorities, we will continue to face deep losses. As this crisis heightens, the time for real investments and action is now!
Sacramento can only be safe for everyone if we build on the existing work, relationships and power in our communities. We can only succeed if we honor the memory of all of those we have lost with meaningful investments in our neighborhoods, resulting in deep and sustainable systemic change.
With resolve,
Black Child Legacy Campaign
Always Knocking
Greater Sacramento Urban League
Liberty Towers – Impact Sac
Mutual Assistance Network
Roberts Family Development Center
Rose Family Creative Empowerment Center
Sacramento Building Healthy Communities
South Sacramento Christian Center
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation