BALTIMORE – During a brunch Saturday, the Youth Advocates Program Inc.’s (YAP) Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) staff celebrated their participants with the help of Mayor Brandon Scott.
YAP is one of two nonprofits that serve community members who are at the highest risk of being engaged in violence, including people who are involved with gangs, those who recently lost loved ones to gun violence and people who were formerly incarcerated.
According to YAP’s Regional Director Craig Jernigan, the organization identifies participants through their law enforcement partners.
Participants in the program, along with YAP outreach workers and life coaches attended Saturday’s event. Many of the workers live in the neighborhoods and share life experiences with those they serve.
During the event, Mayor Scott praised the GVRS program for its impact on crime in the city. According to the mayor, homicides are down another 24% in Baltimore City and non-fatal shootings are down another 34% on top of the historic 20% reduction in homicides from 2023.