A group of people gathered around two tables in the middle of West Park, on the North Side, pointing and smiling at a collage of old pictures. Others looked on to see what the fuss was all about.

Many times people gather as a reactive response to violence in their community, but on Aug. 16, at the North Side Old Timers Unity Gathering, they huddled together to see photos of influential people who helped shape their lives.

ORGANIZERS—Some of the people who put it all together are Fred “Scappy” Bulls, Zoom Clark, Mildred Tyler, Bubby Arms, Jim Herring, Abbey Turner and Fred “Pooky” Forgson.

“Those are all pictures of people who grew up on the North Side,” said Fred “Pookie” Fortson, a founding member of the Old Timers. “We let the community know they could bring old pictures to put on the tables.”

Fortson then looked down and pointed at some of his friends’ pictures and his own family photos. “Some of these people have passed away, but this is where it all started.”

Last year when the Old Timers held the gathering, more than 2,500 people gathered for the event. This year more than 3,000 people came out to support the group.

Attendees brought their baskets, set up tents and enjoyed music, food, games and various items from the nearly 40 vendors who blanketed the park. The most important thing they enjoyed was the fellowship.

Family ties brought in people from other Pittsburgh neighborhoods, but the connections also stretched to Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and even Texas.

Cheryl Ransom, now a resident of Prince George’s County, Md., heard about the event through her brother.

“I used to play in West Park when I was younger, and I’m meeting people I haven’t seen in a long time. We’re all family, and there is a link between all of us,” she said.

Adults got a chance to enjoy performances from some of the most noted Pittsburgh bands including Roger Humphries and the RH Factor, Elmoz Fire, featuring Gus Collins, and Flo Wilson & the Old School Band.

Youth choirs from North Side COGIC and Bidwell Presbyterian Church also joined in the community celebration.  

While adults enjoyed the gathering, the Old Timers made it clear the group’s main focus was youths in grades K-8.

 “Last year we were just getting it started and we rushed a little, but this year it was geared more toward the children,” said Jimmy Prude, Old Timers President.

“We want to show these young kids the relationships we have with one another. Some of us have been friends for 50 and 60 years. If the kids see we can still be friends, maybe they’ll start making friends with people from other neighborhoods instead of the five-block radius they’ve limited themselves to.”

 The founding members who also include English Burton, Fred “Scrappy” Bulls and John Armes, all grew up in Manchester. They formed the group after they happened to see each other at a funeral of a kid who died from gun violence. There, they decided they needed to help kids in their community, and one of their first ideas was the Unity Gathering.

 Burton said more than anything, the event is part of a “stop the violence movement.”

“Our message got a little muddled last year. Our intent was to bring more of the North Side kids together to have fun. A lot of older people heard about it, and the elders outnumbered the kids three to one. This year, you see kids everywhere,” he said with pride.

From face painting, to African storytelling, to inflatable bouncers, kids’ activities were abundant.  The Old Timers also held a raffle and gave away four bicycles.

 Carol Glenn, who was born and raised on the North Side, said she could feel the love in the air, as she sat holding one of her grandchildren. Even though she lost her son to gun violence 17 years ago, the event allowed her to hug other mothers who experienced the same pain.

 “I didn’t realized when I hugged them I was giving them strength. That’s why it’s important to bring people together, and to let young people know there are still good people out here.”

 One of the main highlights of the event was an award presentation, where North Side native Homer L. Walton, an attorney from Tucker Arensberg, based Downtown, received an Old Timers recognition award for his many accomplishments.

 “We want to impress upon African-American youth what is possible. They can do anything they want to do,” Bulls said.

 “We’re trying to prevent the gang bangers of tomorrow. It’s going to take a lot of organizations to attack this problem, but we can do this by working together.”