Harrisburg University
An upcoming event will use stories and education to help the community fight back against gun violence.
Harrisburg City Council member Lamont Jones is partnering with UPMC to host an event to raise awareness about gun violence on Thursday, June 20 at Harrisburg University, with a focus on education and prevention through storytelling.
The event, Violence Prevention: Ending Gun Violence in Our Community, will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on the 14th floor at HU.
A panel of speakers will tell their stories, share data, provide gun violence prevention resources and present community-developed solutions.
“Even as an elected official, I say that we can’t wait on policy,” Jones said. “This community needs to come together and work to get rid of these things that have been happening.”
Dr. Dale Dangleben, a trauma surgeon who has operated on many victims of violent crimes in Harrisburg, will be the keynote speaker at the event. He will share a presentation with statistics and data showing the effects of violence on the body. He frequently teaches emergency response skills to people in the community, such as how to apply a tourniquet, according to Jones.
“I’ve never seen a trauma surgeon do this kind of thing for the community,” Jones said. “He cares, and he’s passionate about what’s going on in the city of Harrisburg.”
Additionally, two men will share their unique story of forgiveness. Maurice Peppers, who recently finished his time in prison, and Cal Hollman, the man Peppers shot in 1991, will be on the panel to share their story of how they found reconciliation.
Jones believes their story will be an inspiration, particularly to at-risk youth.
“It’s a powerful story. It’s impactful,” he said.
The panel of speakers will also include mental health specialists and staff from CeaseFirePA, an anti-gun violence advocacy organization.
UPMC and Jones are also working to organize a follow-up event in October, Jones said.
“This is an ongoing issue, so I want to make sure we’re not just doing a one off, so we need to get on the ground and keep working with these organizations,” he said.
Registration for the event has closed, but a livestream will be available on YouTube during the event and will be posted afterward for those who cannot attend live.
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