Teen Gun Violence Town Hall Coming To East Harlem Friday

EAST HARLEM, NY - A youth-led town hall on the impact of gun violence to the community is scheduled for Friday in East Harlem after local students found that over 80% of shooting victims in the neighborhood since 2002 were under 25, organizers said.

Hosted by the child welfare nonprofit Children’s Aid NYC, the town hall will be held at P.S. 72 Lexington Academy (131 East 104th St.) in East Harlem from 5 to 7 p.m. Youth ages 12+ and their parents from East Harlem and surrounding areas are invited to participate.

The town hall will feature a discussion on the impact of gun violence on teens and possible solutions, plus a Q&A with community leaders, organizers said.

Panelists include Omar Jackson, the recidivism reduction nonprofit Getting Out And Staying Out Chief Advocacy Officer and director of Stand Against Violence East Harlem; Director of Community Initiatives at Another Choice Youth and Family Outreach Inc. Pastor Isaac Scott; and Chris Lawrence from Not Another Child.

The youth-led town hall was organized in response to alarming statistics regarding gun deaths among young people in the area, organizers said.

A study conducted over the summer by students at the Children’s Aid’s East Harlem Center after-school program at P.S. 72 found that 43 people who had been shot in East Harlem since 2002. Of the 43 victims, 38 were under 25 years old — a whopping 88% of total victims.

The group presented their findings to elected officials in Washington D.C. earlier this year and are currently advocating for the passage of the School Anti-Violence Education Act at the state level.

The legislation, which is in Assembly Committee, would create a school anti-violence education program and establish funding for anti-violence education.

Questions about the town hall can be directed to Children's Aid NYC at 917-518-4640.