Faith and Blue Weekend: Local leaders, police work toward finding solutions to Philly gun violence
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This weekend, law enforcement joined faith-based leaders to help recast the relationship between police and the people they serve. While the setting was casual, the discussion was just the opposite.
It was raw and very real.
The hope is that by recognizing what we have in common – together we can help end the violence.
"Personally when it comes to interactions with cops, I don't like them," one teenager said.
A candid conversation aimed at creating critical change.
"In certain neighborhoods that you live, for example, like West Philly or North and like Strawberry Mansion, you get looked at differently," a teenager said.
On Sunday afternoon, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw joined about a dozen teens from across West Philadelphia at a roundtable discussion about their experiences with police.
"Every time that door opened, there were some blue and red lights coming, they go, he gone, they come back, and being so young I didn't understand it," another teenager said. "It was just they taking my pop."
The event held inside Episcopal Community Services on West Girard Avenue was one of 24 happening across the city for National Faith and Blue Weekend, including a peace walk Friday in Nicetown.
The goal is to work through faith leaders to reframe the relationship between law enforcement and residents as our city struggles with too many shootings and homicides.
"Historically, any movement for positive social change in this country has been anchored in the faith community," one man said.
"When I see each one of you, each one of you can be my child," Outlaw said.
Philly's top cop encouraged these young people to use their voices to be part of the solution.
"That's why it's important for you to report stuff like that so we can make it better," Outlaw said.
"We're here to help them however we can and that they're valued members of their community and we expect them to contribute in a positive way to their communities," she added.
Outlaw also asked each of these teens to consider a career in law enforcement to break the stereotypes of us versus them.
On Monday, the 6th District will host a Faith and Blue event at 2 p.m. at the Rodeph Synagogue on Broad Street.
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