Community Leaders Unite to Combat Rising Gun Violence Ahead of Summer Months

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As temperatures climb and summer approaches, Grand Rapids community leaders and neighbors gathered Tuesday night to proactively address youth violence and create solutions that could transform the city's approach to public safety.

The Safe Alliance for Everyone (SAFE) task force hosted the conversation to discuss solutions to gun violence, mental health issues, and a lack of pro-social opportunities for neighbors between the ages of 15 and 24.

"Our hope is to work as a collaborative in order to provide safe, brave spaces that can empower our community's children to become more educated in different areas, to have a safe space where they can fellowship and gather, and a place where they feel like they can create a sense of belonging in the city of Grand Rapids and give them something to do," said Latesha Lipscomb, Grand Rapids Civilian Violence Prevention and Intervention Manager.

$10,000 in Grants Will Fund Summer Programming

Statistics show there's an increase in gun violence in warmer weather. To combat this trend, the SAFE task force has awarded $10,000 in grant money that will kick off in the summer, when gun violence rates typically increase.

Lipscomb discussed several initiatives set to get underway that address youth gun violence. These programs are designed to create more access and opportunities for young people to learn, grow and develop throughout the city.

"Violence does tend to increase during those idle times, and so we believe that by implementing this type of programming and community throughout the city, this creates more access and opportunities for those young people to learn, grow and develop," Lipscomb said.

Community Member Shares Personal Connection to Issue

For residents like Dalshawn Tyler, the issue of youth violence is deeply personal. Tyler lost a couple of people to gun violence and now wants a better life for his children.

"When you growing up in it, it's normal," Tyler said. "When you start to have kids, you become a father, you mature, you get to a certain age where you start to realize how important family is."

Tyler hopes these community conversations will make a lasting difference for the next generation.

"Just hoping eventually we come to a space where we can raise more young black doctors and lawyers and professionals, you know, say in the city of Grand Rapids," Tyler said.

Mental Health Initiative: 'Let's Talk, King'

One of the grant recipients is Duke Turley Jr., who is beginning an initiative called "Let's Talk, King." Its goal is to combat gun violence by supporting the mental health of young men.

"It's healthy to have space or someone to talk to about what you're dealing with internally," Turley said. "You can't necessarily sustain a living without having your mental right to be able to sustain just life in general, your basic needs, housing, employment, education, food. So, there's that disconnect, right?"

City commissioner Milinda Ysasi has been with the SAFE task force since the beginning and emphasized the importance of community-driven efforts highlighted at the gathering.

"It's for our winners to come together, to connect with different apartments in the city, to say, what are the things that we're planning or doing," Ysasi said. "We're talking about some longer-term strategies as well."

Gun Violence Memorial Project in Works

Ysasi also spoke about a gun violence memorial. The idea came after a proposal was rejected by the city to rename a street in honor of Amillier Penn, a teenager who was shot and killed in June of 2024.

"What we could collectively do as a city to remember those who have lost their lives, particularly these young, you know, young people as well, but anyone impacted by gun violence in our city," Ysasi said.

Lipscomb said that an artist reception for the memorial project will take place in June.

City and Task Force Working Together

City of Grand Rapids Civilian Violence Prevention and Intervention Manager Latesha Lipscomb said the goal is to create a collaborative environment for youth.

"We really work to improve quality of life through the delivery of excellent city services and community partnership," Lipscomb said.

The SAFE task force and City of Grand Rapids are creating a gun violence memorial art installation to honor lives lost and support community healing.

What Comes Next

The initiatives awarded $10,000 in grant money in the fall will officially launch in the summer months. The SAFE Alliance community gathering will continue to host these discussions and bring together neighbors, city officials, and community leaders.

"When any neighborhood suffers, the ripple effects touch us all, making safety and healing a collective responsibility for all," Lipscomb said.

This collaborative approach represents a significant shift in how Grand Rapids addresses youth gun violence, moving beyond traditional law enforcement methods to create spaces where young people can thrive, learn, and build connections with their community.