In an audacious push towards reform, the City of Detroit has shifted its gaze onto its community heroes, channeling $700,000 in grants to six local organizations via the freshly minted initiative, ShotStoppers. At the core of this movement are everyday Detroiters — committed individuals and groups driving change right in the heart of our city.
Negus Vu, a frontliner in this effort, has spent a decade running The People’s Action. The recent grant he received underscores the city’s faith in their work, aiming to curb gun violence and foster community improvement.
Vu reported to WXYZ, “We’re doing community engagement — we go into communities, knock on doors through surveys. We find out what their needs are and we organize around that,” Vu said. “Right now, we’re at 7 Mile and Greenfield (roads). We’re doing bi-weekly cleanings every day. We’re doing night patrols on the weekend, we’re serving food and then we’re also helping people get jobs,” Vu said.
The dire need for such an initiative became inevitably clear in April’s violent surge, where downtown Detroit was scarred by 10 shootings — including incidents in Greektown and at the Detroit Riverwalk. These haunting reminders of urban violence echo in our communities, reinforcing the urgency of projects like ShotStoppers.
Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison is optimistic, heralding ShotStoppers as a game changer. A sentiment echoed by the city council, who swiftly approved six contracts on July 1. Their endorsement, however, comes with accountability measures — these community groups must meet certain benchmarks to receive full funding. This ensures not just the accountability of the grant recipients, but that the funds are being employed effectively to fulfill their intended purpose.
According to WXYZ, Deputy Mayor Bettison said, “I think it’s going to make a tremendous difference because many of these groups have been doing the work self-funded. So, we’re talking about smaller grassroots groups that we all know, that I’ve had to call when I was with the police department and say hey, we can use your support.”
The official launch of ShotStoppers is set for August 1. Anticipation mingles with hope as Detroit looks towards a future where headlines of gun violence are replaced by stories of communal growth and resilience. Let’s hope that this new program, fortified by local grit and determination, can truly change the game and restore peace to the streets of Detroit.
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