Staff photo / Bob Coupland
Marcel McDaniel with Freedom Bloc speaks at a recent community event at Grace AME Church on addressing community safety and making changes in communities to benefit families. Various speakers shared ideas and ways that different groups and organizations working together can make changes.

WARREN — Local organizations came together recently to focus on community safety and learned what can be accomplished by working together.

The three-hour event held at Grace AME Church Warren focused on creating a culture of community care by working together.

More than 25 people attended.

Jeremiah A’Ashir, director of operations for Walking in My Truth Inc, of Youngstown, which works to restore individuals, rebuild families and reform communities, said it takes each individual to be the change they want to see in their lives and in the community,

“I want each person to be the best person they can be, to be the changes they want to see, and to love God and others unconditionally. These will help to activate you to become mobilized and do the work in your community,” A’Ashir said.

He said it is important to have a collaborative approach to addressing issues in your community,

A’Ashir said in 1998, his life was affected by gun violence when his brother was shot by an AK47, taken to the hospital and had to have a leg amputated. He now has a prosthetic leg.

“I learned that violence was real and the world could be harsh. I soon became more acquainted with my community and my neighbors and wanted to do things that would be a part of the solution. We are all products of God’s power. God lets you be the deliverer of areas you came out of in your community,” A’Ashir said.

He said it is important to build relationships with others in your community and be more informed and willing to work together.

“We need to have communication, collaboration and dialogue on what is going on in our community. We need to focus on building a better community with actions that bring about solutions,” he said.

A’Ashir said there needs to be peer recovery support to help with issues in the community.

He said he has dealt with youth as young as 13 or 14 who have guns to protect themselves.

Marcel McDaniel with Freedom Bloc said he spent time in prison and when he was released he wanted to help others and found that 95% of the juveniles in juvenile justice centers were black.

He said he works with the youth today focusing on prevention, intervention and transformation.

McDaniel said it is important to bring the highest version of yourself to help make change in your community.

He said issues such as violence and more individuals going to prison need to be addressed.