INDIANAPOLIS — Days after gunfire killed a man outside of a Chuck E. Cheese's location in Indianapolis, community advocates are speaking out and encouraging those who witnessed the violent crime to seek help to process their emotions.
"The goal is that they will be able to find some sort of support and healing so they don't normalize that," said Brandon Randall, a longtime advocate in the Indy area. "That's how trauma perpetuates across individuals and communities because it's normalized or we're desensitized to it. We don't want that."
Randall says those needing someone to talk to can reach out to VOICES, a nonprofit that serves the community in a variety of ways.
RELATED | Indiana Mental Health Services Guide
An overlying issue Randall says needs to be addressed are the systemic issues behind the violence happening.
"Why did it have to escalate to violence? What coping schools were lacking? What conflict resolution skills have not been established?" he asked.
A billboard campaign wrapping up highlighted many of the proven reasons people turn to violence: poverty and societal pressure among others.
RELATED | Cycle of Risk: The Intersection of Poverty, Violence, and Trauma
Randall and all the community partners working together know it's going to take time to undue generational trauma. He thinks everyone can play a part in it, they just have to choose to stay positive when faced with these challenging circumstances and situations.
"We all live in this city. It's not one person or one demographic or one side of town's responsibility, every person needs to get involved," Randall said. "Until people feel like they're part of this community, things won't change because people feel like it's a them problem and not an us problem. The reality is, it's a we problem and we have to find solutions."
-
Monroe County cancels homeless camp eviction on county-owned land
Monroe County hoped to remove a homeless community between Switchyard Park and RCA Community Park before Christmas. Instead, the tents will remain for the foreseeable future.
Damien Center urges lawmakers to extend Indiana needle exchange programs
Each year, the Damien Center says they have about 5,000 visits from people in need of clean needles.
Brownsburg APC to vote on Hawks Landing subdivision amid resident concerns
Proposed development would bring more than 100 homes near Green Street and Acre Lane, with neighbors raising concerns about traffic and its proximity to Oinking Acres.
Report ranks Indiana worst in the country for roads
A new survey of truck drivers and owner-operators ranks Indiana as having the worst roads in the country.
