Gun Violence and Kids

 

Did you know that gun violence is now the number one killer of children in the United States? And one in five people in the U.S. have a family member who has been killed by a gun. (KFF/Kaiser Family Foundation)

 

In July, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans renewed a proclamation for a Local State of Emergency due to the threat of gun violence in the city. While the overall numbers have declined since the proclamation was requested in 2022, there have been 124 shooting victims and 22 people killed by gun violence so far this year. The median age for shooting victims in 2024 is 29, with the youngest victim only 14 years old.

 

Two local organizations take aim at the impact of gun violence on children, their families, and our community as a whole: Rise Up Rochester, Inc. and 585-SNUG.

“Gun violence in the new norm,” said Wanda Ridgeway, Executive Director for Rise Up Rochester (RUR). The nonprofit organization works to interrupt violence and help maintain a nonviolent culture by mediating disputes, mentoring high-risk individuals, facilitating support groups, and providing case management and wraparound services for victims, their families and neighborhoods impacted by gun violence.

 

“I’ve never seen things this bad, the violence has escalated,” said Ridgeway. “Too many kids have guns now.” Weapons are typically stolen or brought in from the south and sold illegally to youth on the streets. Ghost guns—purchased in parts and assembled, eliminating traceable serial numbers—are also gaining popularity among kids.

 

“The code on the street has changed,” continued Ridgeway. “There is no regard for who gets hit in shootings anymore, with entire areas being taken over by gangs.”

 

What began as a pilot program in the Rochester City School District in 2008—funded by donations and staffed by volunteers—RUR is now supported by local, state and federal grants and a dedicated staff of 14.

 

The program teaches essential life skills, including financial literacy, to young men referred by RCSD or through probation. A safety plan and educational plan are drawn up for participants, outlining future goals. Speakers are brought in to talk about drug/chemical and alcohol abuse. Collaboration with a mental health counselor includes evaluations to uncover undiagnosed mental health issues.

 

“For kids who had been wandering the hallways, not going to class, or who had been suspended” said Ridgeway, “they come to our program regularly.”

 

Ridgeway, who lost a nephew to gun violence in 2006, knows that young people are struggling and understands how alone these kids feel. She tells them they’re not a product of their environment.

 

“We live in a society where everyone is so judgmental,” she said, “but you have to put in the work, and meet people where they are.”

“Something is lacking in someone who will pick up a gun and shoot another person,” said Toni Nelson, Program Manager for 585-SNUG. SNUG stands for “Should Never Use Guns” and is “guns” spelled backward, which is a fitting inverse acronym as the organization works to reverse the trend of gun violence.

 

Like Ridgeway, Nelson has weathered the devastation gun violence leaves in its wake on family members. Her husband, a Desert Storm veteran, was murdered in 1993 at the age of 24 in a case of mistaken identity. Her son Michael was murdered, also at the age of 24, in a triple homicide in 2014.

 

“Michael is the reason I come in to work every day,” she said. Her son and Ridgeway’s nephew are also significant reasons why program participants continue to come back every day. “The young men and women we support know my son was murdered. They know I care for them and don’t want their moms to walk in my shoes.”

 

The 585-SNUG program was created and is funded by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), and operated locally through a grant awarded to Pathstone. A staff of 17 includes three supervisors, two social workers, one case manager, and several outreach workers, some of whom are no strangers to the criminal justice system.

 

“Our team has street cred,” said Nelson. “Some are former gang members and have done time in prison. The kids relate to them and listen when they tell them this is not the path they want to go down.”

 

The Water Street office is a neutral and safe space for kids aged 14-26 who have been referred to the program through probation. Participants agree to not carry weapons, smoke, vape or even swear once they walk through the doors. In exchange, they are fed, counseled, and provided with assistance to make steps toward securing employment.

 

“We help these kids reflect on their mistakes, find out who they are, and focus on their futures—with no judgment,” said Nelson, concurring with Ridgeway on best practices for reaching kids involved in gun violence. “Every moment they’re with us, they’re not on the streets, shooting or otherwise getting into trouble.”

Outreach workers at Rise Up Rochester and 585-SNUG canvas neighborhoods and participate in shooting responses—to make their presence known, educate the public, and show families that they care and will not tolerate gun violence.

 

“We are a deterrent,” said Nelson, explaining that kids are more reluctant to do anything wrong if people are watching,

 

The two entities often work together, as they encounter many of the same kids who need support. “We have wonderful organizations in our community,“ said Ridgeway. “We can’t be silos, so we lean on and trust in each other.”

 

Confidentiality is a key component in each program. The needs of participants are prioritized, but since gun violence affects other members of the family, case managers and social workers find resources to bring healing to the entire family unit.

 

“We’ve seen so much loss,” continued Ridgeway, “but we also see the success stories, and mothers turning pain into power.“

 

“Just seeing these kids coming down every day is a success story,” Nelson said. “They could be doing something else, but they want to be here, they want to work on themselves.”

 

If you see a child struggling as a result of gun violence, or recognize a high-risk individual in need of support, contact Rise Up Rochester or 585-SNUG.

 

“Be consistent in young people’s lives,” said Ridgeway. “And don’t be afraid to get involved. You could be saving someone’s life.”