NORFOLK, Va. — A new, regional initiative is aiming to reduce gun violence in Hampton Roads. Community groups, local hospitals and Norfolk State University are teaming up to help make neighborhoods safer.
At Norfolk State University on Thursday, local leaders announced a new program called “Safer Together." The effort aims to curb gun violence by merging community-based programs and research.
“Together we are better. Together we are safer," said NSU president Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston.
The regional partnership includes grassroots anti-violence advocates, NSU and hospital-based intervention programs at Sentara Health, Riverside Health and Chesapeake Regional Healthcare.
“We are going to provide adequate services that are deeply needed and rooted in the community of gun violence victims and the community at large," said Latecia Sessoms, founder of the non-profit organization Communities of Change.
Sessoms' group is also the lead agency for the project, which includes other community-based organizations such as Portsmouth-based GiveBack2DaBlock and Ketchmore Kids out of Newport News. The groups will serve as violence interrupters and "credible messengers."
Under the initiative, gun violence victims and affected people who receive support through any of the hospital-based intervention programs will be connected with community partners and supported through the Safer Together program.
Through prevention and intervention efforts, program coordinators hope to reduce gun related deaths by 10 percent over three years in five cities: Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Hampton. They aim to enroll at least 200 participants per year and host quarterly community health fairs across the Hampton Roads region.
The project is funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to support community-based organizations in addressing communal violence.
Some of the money will be used for emergency housing and relocation services for victims of violence.
Sessoms said she’s optimistic it can lead to meaningful and lasting change.
“This is a dire need. The community is desperate for an intervention of this level and collaborative partners that are coming together to make it happen for this community,” she said.
With violent crimes rising in some Hampton Roads communities, Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins said he supports more community partnership.
"I think the message is out that public safety is a shared responsibility," said Jenkins. "The community usually sees it way before it gets to police. So by getting to the community, first, [...] I think we will really get to some of the root causes of the issues that will create lasting change."
The Safer Together program will start by the end of January 2024.