New initiative aims to prevent more violence in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - State and local leaders are finding ways to prevent more violence in our communities, especially after the tragic Oglethorpe Mall shooting in Savannah.

Although Savannah Police reports show there have been none made for gang activity, leaders Saturday said a “Campaign 4 Life” initiative aims to break the cycle of gang involvement in Chatham County.

“Today we kickoff a campaign for life, and that campaign gears towards youth, and parents, and community,” said Representative Carl Gilliard.

Chatham County Gang Prevention Intervention Commission has partnered with multiple local and state-wide organizations to introduce “Campaign 4 Life” an initiative aiming to provide a network of education, mentoring, job opportunities, and after-school programs for youth in the Savannah area.

Efforts ramped up following the shooting at the Oglethorpe Mall in July.

“What happened in the mall was unfortunate, but we now, the community, have to come together to address everything proactively moving forward,” said Gilliard.

Representative Gilliard feels this issue could be prevented with a wholistic approach.

“People started pointing at each other. ‘The problem is the police department, the problem is the schools, the problem is the courts, the problem is the parents’. The problem is it takes a village, so today we bring the village back together,” said Gilliard.

That the cycle needs to be broken sooner rather than later.

“If we don’t give others an opportunity to have a second chance or a third chance and give them a chance to get on their feet, we’re gonna see a cycle of the same things over and over and over,” said Gilliard.

Leaders at Saturday’s commission meeting say the initiative comes after studies and conversations in Chatham County – and in other cities like Atlanta, Macon, and more.

“Now we’re rolling out, getting with our youth and different things that they could be interested in - whether it’s podcasting, sporting events, different mentorship programs, things that our youth can use to have a better outlook on their lives and get into something different other than trouble,” said a legislative council member for Rep. Gilliard.

They plan to roll-out several programs in October.