ORLANDO, Fla. – The level of gun violence in eight different neighborhoods across Orlando, including Parramore, Rosemont and Mercy Drive, has been dropping in recent months, according to city officials.
Orlando residents, like Marlon McLeod, are happy -- and relieved -- to see the decrease.
McLeod, who has lived in Parramore for the past six years, told News 6 that he has seen less shootings over the past year.
“It’s good to see that change,” McLeod said. “It is so important to see for the youth and my own safety.”
City officials attributed the driving force behind the change to Peace Orlando, a gun violence-prevention program organized under the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that aims to impact neighborhoods in Orlando.
“Over the first year of programming we got an independent evaluator to come in and review the program. They found a reduction in shootings across the city by 43%. Reductions by gunshot wounds by 36%. Reductions in homicides by 20,” said Abraham Morris, manager of Orlando Children Youth and Families.
Raysean Brown, founder of Peace Orlando, said the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition program has been making a positive impact through services that include cognitive behavioral therapy, work readiness and mentorship programs.
Brown said Peace Orlando hires what the organization refers to as “Neighborhood Change Associates” to connect with individuals deemed at risk of being involved or causing gun violence. The intervention program helps decrease the likelihood of their involvement in violence crime by providing them with mentorship and resources they might not have otherwise.
“We’re putting somebody in that community which is from that community (and) has a lot of community pride to do the work and to help identify these individuals through trust and relationships that has already been built,” Brown said.
Brown said crime intervention programs like Peace Orlando are not a new concept and have been implemented across the nation. However, it is the first of its kind in Orlando, and Brown said he hopes to expand the program to nearby cities.
“Our goal is to continue spreading peace and pushing to scale up,” Brown said.
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