GREENSBORO, N.C. — The threats are not isolated to our schools.
Violent crime is threatening areas across the Triad. Greensboro police said murders have nearly doubled this year.
The violence has leaders pushing for solutions.
Ingram Bell, The Cure Violence Program Manager for the Gate City Coalition, said her group focuses on two target areas the Smith Homes/Martin Luther King area and the Overland Heights/Hickory Trails Corridor.
These are where members in the past have seen more violence but Bell said mediation is working with only 2 shootings so far this year.
"In those areas, our numbers are down, but that doesn't say anything else for the rest of the city," Bell said.
The group is not large enough to tackle other areas in the city.
Bell said that's where the city needs to ramp up the resources.
"It's not gonna take one program, it's not gonna take one person, it's not gonna take one agency. It's gonna take a multiple of multiple attacks at this issue," Bell said.
It's a step the city of Greensboro is taking but it is a slow process to bring these initiatives to life.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the city recently launched the Real Time Crime Center allowing police access to about 3,000 cameras.
"It is really a large bank of cameras, but if something happens they know they can go back and look at footage. It also does give them the ability where if there is something going on right now, they can depending on where the camera is, zoom in, and let the officers on the scene know what they are seeing from the wider perspective and that is a great pay off," Vaughan said.
The city also launched a violence prevention branch that is expected to be fully operational by January 2024 which will work hand in hand with what Cure Violence is doing for the city.
Cure Violence is also looking to launch new programs at the start of the year.
Both Bell and Vaughan mirror the message saying the community needs to come together and build its resources for those in need to prevent the ongoing rise in violence.
"It is truly going to take neighborhoods, it is going to take our religious establishments, it's going to take our non-profits, but everybody is going to play a role in this," Vaughan said.
"Will there always be violence? Absolutely. But can we curb the violence? Absolutely," Bell said.
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Subscribe to our daily newsletter Let’s Get 2 It!
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.