The author, photographed here in 2022, writes that this month, the Civic Coalition to Save Lives is releasing its first impact report, highlighting the heroes of the gun violence intervention story, the people on the front lines who have been driving intervention efforts in Philadelphia for decades.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was a teenager growing up in West Philly when a drive-by attempt targeting me thankfully didn’t go as it was intended. Someone who looked like me had stabbed someone else a few blocks away, and the word on the street was that I, as the suspected perpetrator, escaped to a nearby corner.
The car headed my way with guns drawn was seeking revenge for an act that I hadn’t committed. Fortunately for me, the gun jammed … the bullets never fired … and my life was spared.
I ran terrified from the would-be shooting that day intent on making sure that I wouldn’t end my life as a statistic — just another Black boy dead on the streets of Philadelphia because of a beef that had nothing to do with me.
Some 60 years later, there are still beefs on the streets that are claiming lives of promise every day in Philadelphia, but I’m lucky enough to now be in a position to help do something about it. In September, I was named the executive director of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives — a collection of leaders from the philanthropic, civic, and business communities formed in 2022 to support the efforts of those in the city committed to reducing gun violence.
At the time, Philadelphia was facing a gun violence crisis, with the loss of lives from gun deaths reaching unprecedented levels. True to its character, a group of people galvanized across sectors — from the street corner to the corner suites — to better understand and urgently confront the crisis.
The Civic Coalition to Save Lives emerged to enable that collaboration and to advocate for consistency needed for sustainable success. A new city administration was elected with an ambitious mandate under Mayor Cherelle L. Parker with “safety” at the top of their agenda.
As 2024 draws to a close, we know we still have much work to do, but the story of gun violence in Philadelphia is much different than it was just a year ago. The city has achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in gun violence when compared to 2023.
As of Wednesday, there had been 244 homicides in Philadelphia; at this time last year, there had been 394 killings. The last time there were fewer than 250 murders this late in a year was in 2014.
Though the current homicide numbers are still far too high, the year-over-year decline is so noteworthy that it has captured the interest of other cities wanting to know the secret to Philadelphia’s success.
While multiple data points contribute to the downward trend, undeniable factors — starting with engaged city leadership and the collective efforts of residents, government, and community and civic partners — have helped turn the page to make a significant difference.
This month, the coalition is releasing its first impact report describing the road we’ve traveled so far, where we are now, and where we hope to direct our efforts in 2025. This report highlights the heroes of the gun violence intervention story, the people on the front lines who have been driving intervention efforts in Philadelphia for years.
Our effectiveness as a coalition relies on the work of our partners. Their dedication and tireless efforts through city-backed initiatives, community-based organizations, and hospital violence intervention programs have helped reduce the number of gun violence deaths to levels Philadelphia hasn’t seen in a decade.
In 2025, we’re committed to building on the momentum that’s been created with bold, targeted strategies throughout the year. Most of the coalition’s funding is generated from corporate and philanthropic giving, and we’re determined to raise enough money to expand support of gun violence intervention efforts in Philadelphia.
We anticipate increasing our partnership with the city leadership as we collaborate more on evidence-based approaches that have shown promise.
We also intend to broaden our commitment to long-term, sustainable violence intervention and reduction efforts while, at the same time, continuing to raise awareness, increase understanding, and expand public education about effective gun violence intervention strategies.
We know the road ahead will not be any easier than the road we’ve already traveled. But there’s an African proverb that says if you want to go anywhere fast, travel alone. If you want to travel anywhere far, go together.
We hope to go far, together.
The Rev. David W. Brown is the executive director of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives and also serves as the assistant dean of community and communication for the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University.
The story of gun violence in Philadelphia is much different than it was just a year ago.