FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2020
CONTACT: Onoyemi Williams | (205) 356-0071 | onoyemi@fiaal.org
Birmingham —Faith in Action Alabama’s Peacemakers Campaign a Birmingham-based gun violence intervention group will receive $100,000 in grant funding from Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to support the critical work of community-led gun violence intervention programs. Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, supported by grassroots arms Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action.
Dr. Gregory L. Clarke, Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and Co-Chair of the Peacemakers Campaign: “I am so grateful to Everytown for seeing the value in the work of the Birmingham Peacemakers for nearly three years. These funds are an investment in the will of the people, in the work of the Peacemakers as we continue to support the communities we work in and as we advocate for a proven anti-gun violence street outreach program for the City of Birmingham.”
“Local gun violence intervention programs continue to serve a valuable role in communities hit hard by gun violence, despite long standing inequities now further exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Michael-Sean Spence, director of Policy and Implementation at Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. “We’re honored to stand with and support groups using evidence-based strategies to prevent shootings. With sustained funding, these groups can continue to make a difference in the lives of their communities.”
Onoyemi Williams, Peacemaker Community Organizer: “The pillars of the Peacemakers Campaign are to listen, learn, and love all in service to reduce gun violence in Birmingham. We will use the Everytown grant dollars: to support night walks in neighborhoods hard-hit by gun violence, the victim response team that provide support to families of victims of gun violence, and will continue to advocate for the City of Birmingham to properly fund and implement an anti-gun violence street outreach strategy based on proven nationally program methods.”
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Faith in Action Alabama is a faith-based community organizing organization that works to honor God by dismantling systemic racism to create pathways of opportunity for all Alabamians. Faith in Action Alabama, which was established in 2016, consists of over 50 congregations across race and faith lines from Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery. Faith in Action Alabama leads local and state grassroots campaigns to dismantle systemic racism. For more information please visit our website at www.faithinactionalabama.org.
