Of the county’s 55 homicides this year, 41 of the victims were African-Americans. The time for talk is past; the time has come for action.

TIM STEVENS

So said Tim Stevens as he introduced the Coalition Against Violence completed “Strategies For Change” document during a public forum at Duquesne University July 8.

“We have to create a new culture and make permanent, ongoing changes,” he said. “Because one or two events certainly isn’t going to do it.”

In addition to Stevens, forum speakers included coalition co-convener Valerie Dixon and Duquesne University President Charles J. Dougherty as well as other coalition members, all of whom addressed different aspects of the document’s strategies adapted aimed at creating “long-term solutions to deep-rooted problems.”

“Before we just had the Community Manifesto and The Role of The Family. Now we have strategies from A to Z covering 70 pages,” said Stevens. “We’ve identified strategies for action aimed at everyone who wants to make a difference, and not just shake their heads and say, ‘what a shame.’”

The strategies, while concentrating on strengthening the Black family and community, address 19 different segments of society and offer suggestions on how individuals and groups in those communities can effectively help reduce violence.

Among these are suggestions that professional athletes set a positive example for youth in their dress and demeanor; that primary and secondary educational institutions make their curricula more culturally diverse, and that as part of a “restorative justice” agenda, mandatory minimum sentencing be eliminated and judges be able to render case-specific sentences that allow for increased restitution and decreased recidivism.

VALERIE DIXON

In the document’s forward, Common Pleas Family Court Judge Dwayne Woodruff wrote, “Accolades are to be extended to all who have taken the time to sit down, ponder, discuss, seek solutions and provide this booklet as a beacon of hope for our children.”

Dixon, who addressed some of the history leading to the “Strategies For Change,” stressed that though building commitments among those communities is the next step; some institutions and individuals are already stepping up, especially Duquesne University for hosting the forum, sending out more than 800 invitations and videotaping the event for no charge.

“University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg has committed the university to pay to print and assist with distributing 15,000 copies of the document,” she said. “WAMO-AM has given us time on the air to present a number of community service providers and let people know how to get involved.”

Dixon also noted that the New Pittsburgh Courier included the Community Manifesto as an insert in its March 5 edition. She also thanked City Council President Doug Shields for exploring ways to implement the strategies.

“And Linda Lane, Pittsburgh Public Schools Deputy Superintendent, and her team are reviewing the document to see how the educational recommendations can be integrated into the district,” Dixon said.

In addition to the strategies document, the coalition also released its new Community Services Directory, which lists providers by neighborhood with brief descriptions of their various missions.

All of the 100 or so who attended the forum received the directory and the strategies booklets.

(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)