Two local activists joined Director of Community Violence Reduction Shonna Majors in the battle to safeguard the city against violent crime.
Mayor Joe Hogsett named Robert Fry, 44, and James Wilson, 36, as the first two Indy Peacemakers during the Public Safety Walk in Northwest District on July 25. The new roles will fulfill a commitment Majors made to the city in June during a press conference announcing her new role.
Fry said he knows friends and family members who were victims of gun violence. His goal is to prevent others from becoming victims.
“I could have been one of those kids,” Fry said. “I was heading down that road of destruction. I want to give youth, ages 16 to 24, an alternative route to selling drugs, stealing and killing. Let me show you some of the things I learned when I was your age.”
Wilson started Circle Up Indy, a nonprofit that focuses on services for youth and families, and owns the business Circle of Health Services.
In his past, Wilson spent 10 years — from ages 9 to 17 —in and out of juvenile justice system.
“When I came home from prison, the young adults were selling drugs and shooting dice on the street,” Wilson said.
He noticed his neighborhood had declined and lacked prosperity. One of the most important things, Wilson said, is letting people know that there are individuals alongside these community organizations that really care.
“We are not the police, but we work … for the community,” Wilson said. “We really want to see something different.”
In December of 2017, Hogsett introduced a violence reduction strategy in conjunction with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Office of Public Health and Safety. In addition to the strategy, Hogsett created a $300,000 grant program to help prevent crime in Indianapolis neighborhoods.
As part of the violence reduction strategy, Hogsett introduced Majors as the new director of community violence reduction. Majors works in the Office of Public Health and Safety and is responsible for serving as a bridge between law enforcement agencies, community groups and neighborhoods. She also oversees the Indy Peacemakers, who are local activists chosen to provide assistance to community groups that help prevent violence.
“They will be targeting the higher risk youth to engage them in a healthier way of living and introduce them to those opportunities,” she said.
Majors said the peacemakers will look into socio-economic issues and cognitive behavior models for youth as well as career development and conflict resolution.
“If there are things escalating in your neighborhood and you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to the police for help, these guys are here,” Deputy Communications Director Aliya Wishner said. “They understand the challenges that our communities are facing right now.”
Contact staff writer Loren Dent at 317-762-7853.
Contact your Indy Peacemakers
James Wilson — jwilson@circleupindy.com
Robert Fry — Robert.fry@indy.gov
Peacemakers
