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BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON JOINS COMMUNITY LEADERS & ADVOCATES TO KICK OFF GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH & HOST YOUTH EMPLOYMENT FAIR
Highlighting prevention, opportunity, healing, and partnership as key strategies to support Bronx youth and strengthen public safety
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Bronx, NY– On Thursday, June 4, 2026, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson joined Council Members Althea Stevens and Pierina Sanchez, the New York City Police Department, clergy leaders, community organizations, violence-prevention advocates, city agencies, and public-safety partners for a press conference at Lou Gehrig Plaza to kick off Gun Violence Awareness Month in the Bronx, with a focus on prevention, opportunity, healing, and community investment.
Held under this year's campaign themes, "Community Over Violence" and "Choose Peace. Choose Purpose. Choose Life," the event brought together stakeholders from across the borough to reaffirm the shared commitment to reducing violence through youth engagement, workforce development, mentorship, supportive services, and community partnerships.
The program was emceed by Pastor Jay Gooding, Sr., a Bronx clergy member and anti-violence advocate with Stand Up to Violence, whose work continues to support violence prevention, conflict mediation, and youth engagement efforts throughout the borough. Pastor Gooding opened the event by emphasizing the importance of collective action and the role that faith leaders, community organizations, families, and residents play in creating safer communities for young people.
Throughout the press conference, speakers stressed that addressing gun violence requires a comprehensive approach that combines public safety strategies with long-term investments in youth, families, and neighborhoods.
"Too many families in the Bronx have experienced the heartbreak of losing a loved one to gun violence, and every one of those losses leaves a lasting impact on our communities," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "It is important that we continue to do everything we can to support our youth and families who have been impacted by gun violence by creating opportunities for success and connecting them with the jobs and resources that they need to be successful and not a statistic. This Gun Violence Awareness Month, we choose community over violence, and it is a reminder that we all have a role to play in promoting peace and safety in our borough."
“Gun violence prevention starts with investing in our young people and creating opportunities that help them thrive. We must continue expanding access to summer jobs, workforce development programs, mentorship, and mental health resources that keep youth engaged and connected to their communities," said New York City Council Member Althea Stevens, Chair of the Committee on Children & Youth. "Public safety is more than policing; it is ensuring our families have the support and resources they need to succeed. Through strong partnerships between community organizations, city agencies, and local leaders, we can create safer neighborhoods and brighter futures for the next generation."
"I have been saying for a long time now that we are losing a generation of our young people to gun violence either as victims or through incarceration," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. "We are keenly aware of gun violence, but we must prevent it. Events like this one give us the opportunity to bring the youth and their parents together to let them know that the path of guns and violence is one that you must never go down. And we must continue to call on our elected officials here in the city and in Albany to provide us with the resources we need to continue to reach out to our young people with employment and recreational opportunities."
"Public safety requires investment in our communities, especially our youth, before a crisis ever occurs. As we mark Gun Violence Awareness Month, we must confront the reality that keeping our young people safe means ensuring they have the safe spaces and opportunities they need to thrive," said New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. "Career-readiness programs, summer employment, and engaging activities are crucial pathways we can provide. Thank you to Bronx BP Vanessa L. Gibson, my colleagues in government, and our tireless advocates as we stand united in our mission to ensure that every young person in the Bronx has a clear path toward a safe and successful future."
“Gun violence steals futures, destabilizes families, and leaves communities carrying trauma long after the headlines fade,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “Our precincts in the West Bronx experience a disproportionate share of shooting incidents, and we need prevention, intervention, and real investment in the people and places most impacted. That is why I launched the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership: to bring local elected officials, community organizations, service providers, schools, health partners, and residents together around a shared strategy to reduce violence at its roots. To date, we have secured $3 million to create opportunity, build trust, support young people, and save lives in the West Bronx. Fund recipients will be identified by neighborhood leaders. I thank Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and all our partners for standing with us in this work. We will not stop until every child, every family, and every block can live in safety and dignity.”
“Ensuring that the Bronx remains a safe place for families to live necessitates a proactive and multi-faceted approach that supports young people and addresses the root causes of violence. We have seen firsthand that when communities invest in prevention, intervention, and support services, lives can be changed and cycles of violence can be disrupted. The organizations leading this work every day not only help address violence in, but they also help create stronger foundations for young people, families, and neighborhoods to succeed," said Council Member Amanda Farías. "During Gun Violence Awareness Month, I am proud to stand with Borough President Gibson and the many organizations throughout our borough that are committed to this work. The progress we seek depends on our willingness to continue investing in people, neighborhoods, and the partnerships that help our communities flourish.”
“We are grateful to Vanessa L. Gibson for always thinking about her community’s needs. Too often as educators, we’ve come across heartbreak of losing one of our students to gun violence. Too often does it happen to the families, friends and loved ones. I’ve gone to too many funerals growing up in the Bronx and as educator in NYC, I am proud to work in a community where its leadership takes action and sees opportunities for our families," said Carl Vincent Manalo, Superintendent, Bronx High School Districts 7, 9, & 12.
The press conference highlighted several key focus areas for Gun Violence Awareness Month, including youth-focused violence prevention initiatives, workforce development opportunities, violence interruption programs, trauma-informed support services, and collaborative efforts between government agencies and community-based organizations.
Immediately following the press conference, the Borough President's Office hosted its Future Focus Youth Job Fair in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor and Council Member Althea Stevens, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth. The event connected over 400 young people with employment opportunities, workforce development organizations, career-readiness resources, and summer programming opportunities designed to support long-term success.
Throughout the Summer months, the Borough President's Office will continue to amplify community-led Gun Violence Awareness Month initiatives across the borough, including violence-prevention programs, youth engagement activities, wellness events, recreational programming, neighborhood gatherings, and healing-centered activations that promote safety, opportunity, and community connection.
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