We have to be honest with ourselves. Recently, I came across a news story highlighting the “street team” in Roanoke, Virginia, and how they were credited with reducing gun violence by 150%. That’s an incredible achievement on the surface, and it’s uplifting to hear positive headlines about our city.
However, as someone who has been in the field, working within the community, collaborating with grassroots movements, nonprofits, churches, and directly with our youth, I know there’s a deeper story that often goes unheard. From 2021 to 2025, this progress wasn’t the result of a single program or group. It was the outcome of a collective movement a tapestry of efforts woven together by countless hands and hearts determined to create safer streets and healthier futures.
When we highlight only one group, we unintentionally erase the contributions of others who have been equally vital. No organization is more or less significant than the other. Each played a crucial role in shifting the tide. Groups like TAP, YMCA, Humble Hustle, the EnVision Center, and mentors at the Melrose Library such as Mrs. Bean created opportunities, fed children, and built meaningful programs that provided stability, safety, and hope.
But it wasn’t just the organizations. It was also the quiet and unseen labor of love the people who prayed, meditated, and held a vision of a better Roanoke, who believed transformation was possible and imagined a safer future into existence. It was the youth themselves who stepped up to model new behaviors, showing their peers that there is another way forward. It was the mentors and neighbors who created summer programs to keep children engaged and safe, making sure their energy was directed toward growth and joy instead of trouble. It was the community leaders who took youth hiking or out to sacred spaces like Apple Ridge Farm, giving them the gift of fresh air, nature, and perspective beyond the city streets. Every one of these efforts played a part in weaving a safety net for our children.
In my own work, I organized healing circles focused on men’s health. Some might ask: What does men’s health have to do with reducing youth violence?
My answer is simple: our youth mirror what they see. When young people see Black men prioritizing wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually it reshapes what’s possible for them. It plants the seed that life can be lived with balance, purpose, and dignity. This matters deeply in a society where Black men continue to face shorter life expectancies and disproportionate health struggles. A healthy role model is not just a mentor; he is a living example of survival and thriving.
The TAP/AACCI (African American Culture and Contemporary Issues) program also played a transformative role. With students from every background athletes, gamers, and even those navigating life on the streets the curriculum created space for identity, reflection, and empowerment. Rooted in cultural truth, the program gave youth the tools to see themselves not as statistics but as leaders, builders, and visionaries.
This is why it’s essential to acknowledge the collective whole. We often hear the African proverb: “If you want to travel fast, travel alone. But if you want to travel far, travel together.” The reduction in violence is proof of how far we can go when we move as a village.
At the same time, we must recognize that this season isn’t over. Evil doesn’t die; it changes form. Yes, we’ve reduced gun violence but other battles remain: literacy gaps, chronic health conditions, food insecurity, and unaddressed mental health issues. These challenges impact both youth and adults in Roanoke, and they will require the same collective commitment to overcome.
We should take time to celebrate our victories and honor the lives impacted by this progress. But we must also tell the full story a story not of one group or one initiative, but of an entire community rising together. Only then can we sustain this momentum and continue creating the Roanoke our children deserve.
