Religious leaders in Grand Rapids said the city has an on-going issue of violence and crime impacting kids and young adults. On Friday, they and the police chief unveiled a new plan to combat it.
The proposal included three points of action:
- Community prayer and outreach by partnering churches
- Strategic partnership between the police department and faith leaders
- Youth empowerment and education
Pastor Darryl Gaddy Sr. of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church said he and other neighborhood leaders see the need for more support for families.
“We all feel it, the trauma that lingers when children hear and are near gunshots. We all feel it,” said Gaddy. “The sad thing is that our kids begin to feel that violence is normal, it is not normal, and it is not acceptable, and it will not be our future.”…