INDIANAPOLIS — Three months ago, the peacemakers program expanded rapidly going from two in the program to nearly 45 now. The group of interrupters, outreach workers and life coaches are tasked with being out in the community, stopping crime before it starts.
“Last weekend was a huge learning experience for my team,” program manager Shardae Hoskins said.
Last weekend marks one of the most violent the city has seen this year. The peacemakers said those 72-hours were a learning experience.
“Going into this weekend we’re a lot more prepared," Hoskins said. "I understand because I’ve been in this role a little while, but they are starting to understand how weekends, how temperatures, how all of these different variables play a role in violence."
Branden Ballard is an outreach worker with the peacemakers.
“It was a call to action — a divine call to action — of the people that’s really going to do something,” Ballard said.
Ballard has been on the job since January, when the program expanded.
"What I realized and what I learned is that it's just a lack of hope here in the city,” Ballard said.
But it is the peacemakers' mission to restore that loss hope. Hoskins said they are taking what they learned last weekend to use moving forward.
Both Hoskins and Ballard said it is going to take the entire community to come together and get involved to see an end to the city’s violence.
“In order for all of us to really make this thing work, we can be the captains of the team, the peacemakers, but everyone can be a peacemaker,” Ballard said.
Peacemakers will receive $37.5 million over the next three years through the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Plan.
-
Craft breweries from across the country come to Indianapolis for convention
The Indiana Convention Center is now the epicenter of America's craft brewery boom. Thousands of brewers are meeting to discuss how to keep the industry growing.
Central Indiana county hoping to lead the way in addressing childcare shortage
Local business leaders and childcare providers are coming together to address the crisis, citing costs and workforce shortages as major barriers to meeting families' needs.
Indiana law offers tax credits to film industry, aims to boost local productions
The law grants a $250,000 tax credit to filmmakers who shoot a film in Indiana. However, those who advocated for this law caution that there are significant restrictions.
City of Indianapolis plans new roundabout on southeast side
In February, INDOT announced its plan for four new roundabouts that are set to come to Muncie and various ones popping up around Hamilton County.
