In 2016, the Cumberland County Positive Youth Development Coalition (CCPYDC)—a county-wide juvenile delinquency prevention effort funded by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and Cumberland County Freeholders—worked with youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Vineland to create a video highlighting the effects of gun violence. They shared this video with officials throughout the county, urging them to make June a monthlong campaign to raise awareness of gun safety and violence. Eleven out of 14 municipalities and the County adopted June as Gun Safety and Violence Awareness month.
Each year, CCPYDC and others plan activities to connect local residents with resources, community supports and connections to law enforcement. Here are some of this year’s highlights:
- More than 300 attended the third annual Coffee with a Cop event on June 15 at the Cumberland Mall and participated in a host of family-friendly activities and educational displays about gun safety and violence prevention measures. View photos here
- Several corner store events held throughout the county connected an additional 400 community members with information on gun safety as well as provided free gun safety locks, health screenings, lead testing kits and more.
- A social media campaign, which included the national #wearorange anti-gun violence movement, reached 16,511 individuals; sharing facts, safety tips, local prevention resources and more throughout the month on Facebook and Instagram.
- Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae penned this letter about gun violence in Cumberland County.
Gun Safety and Violence Awareness Month in Cumberland County may have come to a close, but the work of CCPYDC to keep youth safe and engaged in the community continues all year! Follow CCPYDC on Facebook for updates.