Started with a concept and a commitment after the Danzig and Eaton Centre shootings
• The typical political and media outbursts was not addressing the real root causes of gun violence
• The typical reactionary and political response of building bigger jails, hiring more police and undertaking another research report and analysis was not going to work
• Louis March, a youth and community worker with over 30 years of community work experience invited several organizations that worked with young men to a preliminary meeting to discuss various ideas
• Made purpose was to discuss new strategies that could be used as a pre-emptive strike on the real cause of gun violence
• A decision was made to launch the Zero Gun Violence Movement on June 21, 2013 at the Redemption Reintegration Services office in Scarborough
Present at the table were:
o Redemption Reintegration Services
o Young and Potential Fathers
o Black Daddies Club
o Afro United
o IMPACT n’ Communities
o Coalition of African Canadian Community Organizations
The initial plan was to focus on:
o How to re-engage new stakeholders and resources
o How to foster better collaborations between the organizations, programs and agencies
o How to better recognize and celebrate individual and organizational success stories
o How to clearly identify the real root causes of gun violence through an education and awareness effort
The ZGVM continues to build collaborations and supports throughout the City.
