Overview:
• Christ Church Cathedral's Anti-Gun Violence Summit in Cincinnati addressed complex issues surrounding gun violence, emphasizing the need to disrupt generational poverty and build trust through paid mentors.
• Mayor Aftab Pureval and DeVone Boggan highlighted the impact of unemployment, disparities in education and health, and lack of investments in underserved neighborhoods.
“Our babies, our babies, our babies! They are burying our children! What are we going to do about it?” pleaded an emotional Kelly Gunnels, whose brother Reco Gunnels was killed by gun violence in Avondale in August 2017.
Christ Church Cathedral addressed that concern voiced at its third Anti-Gun Violence Summit on June 1 at the Urban League’s Holloman Center for Social Justice in the Avondale Town Center on Reading Road.
The daylong summit took a comprehensive look at gun violence, featuring remarks by Mayor Aftab Pureval, a keynote speech by DeVone Boggan, founder of Advance Peace (the successful anti-violence program now operating in 16 cities), gun violence data locally presented by Carole Womeldorf, Ph.D, of Community Peace Builders, personal stories by victims of gun violence, youth speaking out about gun violence, and Panel discussions about what it will take to reduce gun violence in Cincinnati moderated by Councilman Scotty Johnson, a Cincinnati Police Department veteran. Bishop Ennis Tait concluded the day with a panel discussion about what’s next.
The take away is complicated, with no easy, quick fix. Everything from generational poverty, unemployment, disparities in education and health, lack of investments in underserved neighborhoods, and other root causes of youth turning to violent crime were on the table.
Those attendees, both young and old, expressed their concerns about their personal safety.
Mayor Pureval spoke about how the need to disrupt generational poverty; how easy it is for youth to get guns; how the Ohio Stand Your Ground law is adding guns to the streets; how the City’s SWAT team is working somewhere in the city every weekend; how people can be seen walking around in public carrying long guns, and other concerns.
“It’s overwhelming!” Pureval said.
Zairion Joe talks to audience about how adults can better understand and connect with the needs of youth. 
Te’Airea Powell, East-Westwood Community Council president, moderates “Youth Speak Up and Speak Out” panel. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Yolanda Johnson talks about solutions to gun violence. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Stephan Pryor talks about solutions to gun violence. 
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey (2nd from right) chats with (left to right) candidates for Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Steve Simon, Municipal Court Virginia Tallent, and Court of Appeals Richard Moore. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Isaac “Red” Davis, father of 11 year old gun victim, Domonic. 
Karen Rumsey, director of CCROW (Cincinnati Citizens Respect Our Witnesses) and Cincinnati Police Dept. social worker who directs survivors programs. 
Mayor Aftab Pureval and Sheriff McGuffey. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Mayor Aftab Pureval talks to Rayshawn Johnson about some upcoming anti-gun violence events that Rayshawn has organized. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
DeVone Boggan, founder of Advance Peace, was the keynote speaker. His message was that a successful violence interruption program must be community led, and the key leaders are “credible messengers” – those men and women who already have experienced the lifestyle that active shooters are experiencing. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Renee Mahaffey Harris, president of Center for Closing the Health Gap, chats with Kelly Gunnels and Assistant City Manager Virginia Tallent. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
High School student Joi Burton, Miss Black Teen Cincinnati 2022, performs spoken word poetry. 
College student Janiah Gray, an intern in Vice Mayor Jan- Michele Lemon Kearney’s office, takes the mic to participant Jennifer Foster. 
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and Jack Jose. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
A young man is supported by Jennifer Foster and Yolanda Johnson as he tells his story of gun violence. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Kelly Gunnels gives an emotional plea during the summit. Credit: Michael Mitchell
There have been some successes in reducing violent crime nationally, however, as the summit’s keynote speaker DeVone Boggan, founder of Advance Peace (the successful anti-violence program now operating in 16 cities), said the core of the program is building, over a period of time, trust and relationships. It takes paid mentors, who can be non judgmental and are willing to enthusiastically work with young men in the community who are at the core of the violence.
“There are lots of things going on in your community, but how are you going to reduce gun violence in your community by not engaging those who are involved in those services and opportunities with the criminals. Social services are not the answer to reducing violence. You have to be able to deliver those services and opportunities when they walk through your door,’’ Broggan said.
He explained the Peacemaker Fellowship takes about 18 months of work with candidates to be effective. “The mentors have to court them. Break their suspicions. Engage them multiple time a day. Be able to walk them through the door when the time comes for them to seek employment.
As Officer Scotty Johnson said, “Unlearning is two to four times more difficult than learning.
Other panelists were Moderator Karen Rumsey, Carol Brown, Isaac “Red” Davis, Moderator Te’Airea Powell, Hamilton Co. Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, Councilmember Anna Albi, Cincinnati Police Dept. Capt. Mark Burns (District 4, Ronnell Ellison, Brothas, Inc., Marvin Butts, Derrick Rogers, Urban League, Pastor Nick Burnett, Pastor Sil Watkins, Rodney Christian, Mitch Morris and Rufus Johnson.