Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis highlight solutions and strategies at Peace Not Guns Roundtable

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 15, 2024 – Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson was joined by Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis for one of Johnson’s “Peace Not Guns” roundtable discussions, speaking with victims of gun violence and local leaders about the reinvigorated state Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The discussion featured more than a dozen victims and co-victims of gun violence in Philadelphia.
“The voices of those who have been impacted by gun violence should be at the center of every conversation we have about gun violence,” said Lt. Gov. Davis, who chairs the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “We want to hear from those who have been injured and those who have lost loved ones as our Office of Gun Violence Prevention works to develop a plan to address this epidemic and continues our initiative to improve services and support for gun violence victims. I look forward to partnering with the Council President and the City of Philadelphia in our effort to make our neighborhoods and communities safer.”
“I want to thank Lt. Gov. Austin Davis for coming to Philadelphia to hear from individuals and families impacted by gun violence and children who live with this issue,” Council President Johnson (Second District) said. “I have held Peace Not Guns discussions for years so elected officials can have open conversations with community leaders and advocates to hear from them what are some of the root causes of the shootings happening in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth and what are some short-term and long-term solutions to solving the problem.”
Council President Johnson hosts “Peace Not Guns” roundtable discussions regularly so Philadelphians most impacted by gun violence can be heard and come up with better ways for city and community leaders to work together. The primary objective of this gathering is to explore effective advocacy approaches and actionable recommendations, solutions, and strategies to address the issue of gun violence in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania.
In September, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order re-establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), which the Lieutenant Governor leads.
After the roundtable, the Lieutenant Governor and Council President visited the New Options, More Opportunities (NoMo) Foundation, a local gun violence prevention organization, where they heard from young people about their experiences and suggestions for reducing gun violence.
Since 2010, the NoMo Foundation has provided a comprehensive anti-violence program that offers alternative education, tutoring, study skills training, and instruction leading to secondary school completion, including dropout prevention strategies, paid work experiences with an academic and occupational education component, and much more. NoMo has three locations throughout Philadelphia.
In September, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order re-establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention within PCCD. Last week, PCCD launched a statewide listening tour to inform the office’s work.
Community stakeholders are encouraged to complete PCCD’s Stakeholder Feedback Survey to share their thoughts related to ideas about policies, programs, and funding to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania.
Council President Kenyatta Johnson, a former Pennsylvania State Representative, represents the Second Council District, which includes parts of Center City, South Philadelphia, and Southwest Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Council is the legislative arm of Philadelphia municipal government. For more information, visit phlcouncil.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @PHLCouncil
Lt. Gov. Austin A. Davis is the youngest lieutenant governor in the country and the first Black lieutenant governor in Commonwealth history. As lieutenant governor, Davis presides over the Pennsylvania Senate, chairs the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, leads the Local Government Advisory Committee, and serves on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council. Gov. Josh Shapiro has appointed Austin to chair the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
While serving as lieutenant governor, Davis is focused on combating the epidemic of gun violence, supporting small and minority-owned businesses, advocating for working-class Pennsylvanians, and being a champion for communities that feel like they’ve been left behind.