Community group working to understand what’s behind recent gun violence across Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police have been busy lately, dealing with a handful of homicides and violent crime cases. The Neighborhood Resilience Project is working alongside the police and is trying to figure out what’s going on.

“This continued violence in our community can only be disrupted by healing. By a healing presence in the community,” said Father Paul Abernathy.

As part of Gun Violence Awareness Day, the group walked through Homewood, East Liberty, Garfield and the Hill District. Abernathy said their presence was well received and came as a relief to some neighborhoods that have felt hopeless and sometimes forgotten.

“There is a sense of joy about other residents turning out to show support and who are expressing a true concern for our community and youth,” he said.

The project’s Trauma Response Vehicle was also part of the plan.

“We have a small office in the back that we can corner off that we talk to people in private,” said Dr. Staci Ford. “We can give them some inspiration, different ways of looking at some of the things they have been through and just being able to cope.”

The vehicle has been at Penn Hills High School where students have been dealing with the loss of four classmates.

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