A new coalition hits the streets to address crime and poverty across the 757
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — What happens in neighborhoods of need doesn’t stay in neighborhoods of need.
That’s why a coalition of community groups has launched a block-to-block and door-to-door campaign to reach out to those who may have lost faith in crying out for help.
“No one else is really knocking on the doors, sitting down, or standing in front of the house and listening to the people cry,” said Bilal Muhammad, who lost his son to senseless gun violence last year and is the founder of the Stop the Violence Team. “[We will] listen to what their needs are. This is what we got to do; this is the only way that we can bring about a better condition in those communities.”
While cradling his first-born son, 31-year-old Jarell Jones told Muhammad and other members of the coalition that an activity for his pre-teen daughter, such as playing outside, can lead to serious injury or even death.
“Sometimes my kids can’t play outside,” Jones said. “They will hear gunshots and they will run back into the house.”
In Young Terrace and other neighborhoods of need across all zip codes in the 757, the tentacles of crime and poverty reach. That’s why four groups have joined forces to stem violence across Hampton Roads.
Darnell Riddick of Riddick Driven has plans to teach the youth how to become business owners, while Shana and Ferlando Hicks have a different take on the dangers of AI.
The new AI in our community is anger and influence,” said Ferlando Hicks.
Steve Padgett, a former Washington D.C. resident, is a member of the Stop the Violence Team.
“Good-quality people are being brought down by gun violence,” Padgett said.
A story in Norfolk that was covered across the nation last year was one such case.
In March 2022, Virginian-Pilot reporter Sierra Jenkins was killed in a mass shooting in downtown Norfolk. Four months before her death, the mother of the man who police said killed Jenkins, was killed in a mass shooting in the heart of Young Terrace.
The coalition is answering the call.
“We will listen to the people talk, listen to their cry listen to what they have to express, what’s hurting their community and mostly what’s hurting their family,” said Muhammad, still recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder following his son’s shooting death.
Saturday afternoon, the coalition will visit several neighborhoods in need. They will reach out and touch people who are crying out for help. Muhammad used the same techniques decades ago to take back the community.
To see how WAVY-TV covered the crime prevention stories of Young and Tidewater Parks in 1981, watch below:
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