Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
Gun violence continues to shape daily life in Baltimore, where residents say it’s more than a headline — it’s a constant reality. From personal loss and trauma to frustration with broken systems, people across the city are speaking out about their experiences and what real solutions should look like. In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Month the AFRO asked everyday Baltimoreans to share how gun violence has touched their lives, and what they believe needs to change.
“I’ve lost quite a few people to gun violence. A couple were really close — I even lost someone I loved. I’ve dealt with the deaths of friends, uncles and cousins. For me, I’m also part of a teaching community, gun violence doesn’t just affect me personally. It affects my students, my colleagues and the families I work with. I carry that– not just as a person, but as a teacher and a counselor. It becomes this big trickle-down effect. For me, it’s about being prepared and trying to address the problem. One of the most important things I can do is contribute to the community, I understand what I’m dealing with — and maybe help bring about change. That, to me, is what real recovery looks like. I think people are speaking up more now. Sure, we’ve got all these new technologies that help catch people, but the real shift comes when the community steps up — like they used to. That old code of the street, where if you’re living that life, it stays in that life. It shouldn’t spill over and affect everybody else.”…