CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has tapped Myesha Watkins, a recognized leader in community violence intervention, to lead his new Office of Violence Prevention, aimed at ending gun violence and reducing area crime.
Watkins has served as executive director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance for the past five years, leading outreach teams working in neighborhoods, hospitals and schools to interrupt violence, mediate conflicts and mentor at-risk youth. The nonprofit helps families of homicide victims and survivors of gun violence rebuild their lives.
Ronayne said he hopes to build on her “deep experience” and “strong relationships,” given she already has community trust. He called violence prevention “as essential to public safety as policing.”…