A Day With The GCC

Greensboro, a city of almost 300,000 people could count 2,440 violent crimes as of September this past year according to the Areavibes.com and it’s FBI census. That’s a number that comes out to roughly 820 per 100,000 people.

Violent crime rates in Greensboro, like in other major cities in America, have been on the rise consistently with rates easily topping the previous year. Last year Greensboro hit a record high 61 homicides, climbing sixteen deaths above the count of 45 in 2019. This was the previous record. The Greensboro Police Chief, Brian James, has made an outcry alerting the public that he needs more resources and officers. The Gate City Coalition has stepped up making itself one of these usable resources for the city of Greensboro during it’s rough times.

Founded in 2019, the Gate City Coalition is a non-profit that uses it’s time to help the community in multiple ways from securing resources to securing employment. Despite offering these much needed services the Gate City Coalition is most known for its main job of mediating conflict in the communities amongst rivals and seeking peaceful solutions.

The GCC’s leaders have had a heavy news presence as of lately in Greensboro, their mission of lowering the crime rate seeming all the more important with the recent outpour of violence in the community.

Shawn Jackson, a GCC leader stated in his news interview with Channel 12 news that he believed that people are trying to change or are willing and just didn’t have an avenue or know the avenue to change. The GCC has made it their personal mission to be this path.

“We access the community in the way that the cops can’t because we come from them. We were those guys at one point and time, out here with guns ready to do whatever. We grew, we changed! We want to help these guys transition as well. And we just want to show them some love! So they know they have a way.” a statement made by Matthew Grey another lead organizer in the GCC when asked how it was they are able to help the community. “We choose love over violence all day!”.

This sentiment is a mirror into the interior of the GCC. They love their community, and are being the change they want to see!