Petersburg: Unity and love at 'Regional STOP the Violence' community festival
PETERSBURG — The Regional STOP the Violence community festival took place Saturday at Third Baptist Church. The event created by Pastor Belinda Baugh of New Divine Worship Center is an effort to have the community stand together against violence.
"In spite of the reason why we're gathering here today, we're coming together for unity and love," Dr. Yolie Massenberg, Apostle/Senior Pastor of Seraphim Ministries International LIFE Worship Center, said. "Families are here to share their hearts concerning loved ones lost to gun violence."
Attendees were provided with complimentary food, drinks, entertainment and fun activities. A parade also took place to support families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence.
I chatted with Baugh's daughter Dominique Byrd while she provided t-shirts to volunteers. The fifth-grade teacher at Cool Spring Elementary School is very proud of her mom.
"I work very closely with the community to be sure that our kids are able to receive the education they need," Byrd said. "This event is important because we have a lot of children related to people being killed by gun violence. It is great to see my students enjoy themselves where they know they're safe.
"It is an honor and privilege just to be a part of something like this," Byrd said. "We want families of victims to know that we care about them and that their loved ones are not forgotten. There's love still here in Petersburg."
Dominique Byrd's pride goes beyond Pastor Baugh being a good mother.
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"Mom definitely is literally a beacon of light in this community," Byrd said. "I see her wake up every morning with people in this community on her mind."
Byrd mentioned how driven her mother is by everything that takes place in the community.
"She goes out for every death that happens here in Petersburg. It could be three o’clock in the morning that she jumps up," Byrd said. "It’s an honor just to be called her daughter, and I hope that one day I can at least fill half of her footsteps.
"I'm extremely proud of her and don’t even know where she gets the energy from," Byrd said. "I think she has more than me."
Baugh's actions make her daughter ask the following questions:
What can I do for the community?
How can I be a lot more involved?
"I wish we had more people like her out here," Byrd said.
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'Regional STOP the Violence'
At the event, nonprofit organizations were present to provide important information to the community, and families displayed photos of loved ones that died at the hand of violence.
"We are grateful for the works that Pastor Baugh and her church's ministry have done without hesitation across this region, seen and unseen," NaQuetta Mitchell, Women of Endurance CEO and founder, said. "We were thankful for the opportunity to do outreach alongside some of our favorite organizations: The James House, Lending Helping Hands, Justin J. Davis Heart Foundation, OC3, VA Chain Breakers, LLC, P.O.U.R [Provide, Offer, Uplift, rebuild], Hebron VA, Inc., Legal Aid Justice Center and so many others."
The invitation to enjoy a day of food, fun and fellowship was extended to people in the Tri-Cities area.
“When violence affects one community, it affects another community," Baugh said. "It’s important to know that we connect together and stand together."
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'STOP the Violence' community festivalPeople from the Tri-Cities stand together against violence
— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg: 'STOP the Violence' community festival draws hundreds
