ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local community-based group, Men on a Mission, held a round table discussion addressing violence in Albany with the chief of police and other community members as we head into the hot summer months. NEWS10 was at that discussion and has more on what is being talked about in an effort to curb violence as the mercury rises.
“We believe that this Man on a Mission is the best thing that will be happening for Albany during this hot season, to start making a change,” said Pastor Michael Williams.
Pastor Williams, a ‘Man on a Mission’ is putting forth a new idea to help stop the violence. And he has one major goal. “Keep them coffins empty and stop these gangs from initiation, taking a life. Our goal is to stop the violence,” stated Williams.
He’s trying to get the men of the Capital Region to join him in an effort to make city streets safe. The group has been around for about a year now and already has nearly 50 men in its ranks. Albany Chief of Police, Eric Hawkins showed up tonight to give his and the police department’s support to the new idea. “It's about men from the community stepping up and saying they want to address the behaviors, these bad behaviors,” said Chief Hawkins.
The group at tonight’s meeting brings support from such entities like United Tenants of Albany, Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Region and other area role models, to help make a change.
“So, we want to see this collaborative come together to show those teens that there are black men that are working, they're retired veterans, their ex-military, we have some businesses, we have some clergy. You have an expected in that doesn't lead to jail,” said David Gordon, Program Manager with Capital Region Boys and Girls Club.
As far as funding goes, the group gets that from the Albany Community Land Trust Fund, Gun Violence Prevention through community-based group RISSE. Valerie Alexander-Mosley has been with the group since the beginning, and she says the program is going well and has seen the success.
“A couple of people that have come in, and they have a bad habit, but they want help. So, we got our mentorship together, we got our mental health team together and they're working with those young men to get them help,” said Alexander-Mosley.
Another group out patrolling the Capital Region streets in an effort to combat crime is Bishop Avery Comithier with Pastors on Patrol. He is also trying to keep violence down during the heat wave by providing kids with a safe place to go, his ice cream shop. “Kids know when they see love. Kids know when they see concern. And so, when you give them something and then talk to them behind the gifts, they tend to grab hold of that,” said Bishop Comithier.
If you want to participate with Men on a Mission, their first big event is their march from Bleecker Stadium to Madison Avenue Park Wednesday June 19. The march is expected to kick off at 11 a.m. for a day full of food, fun and hydration.
