WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — WFMY News 2 has reported a lot about violent crime in recent weeks. Leaders in Greensboro and Winston-Salem warned that murders are up in both cities.
With 41 murders already taking place in Winston-Salem this year. That's compared to 33 murders around the same time just last year, according to Winston-Salem Police.
Gun violence groups in the city have taken notice of this increase in violent crimes as they aim to bring more awareness and solutions to the communities they serve.
One of those groups is called Our Opportunity 2 Love & Heal. Its mission is to end violence.
Member of the group, Micha James, said conversations regarding an uptick in murders goes beyond talk of guns. She said there should also be a focus on the mental health of those impacted.
"We can talk about gun violence and homicides all day. However, they're still lasting traumas from the ones that happened last year and the year before that," James said.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman asked James about possible solutions. She mentioned collaboration and investing more money into local non-profits that aren't as widely known.
"Instead of funding initiatives for the people who you know, or for the people who are most popular, how about going into these communities were people are already doing the work on their own," James said.
Not only does she think the community needs to invest time and money, she said it also comes down to better resources.
"Those things [mental health resources] have been offered to particularly the black community as 'a nice to have,' they should be offered to the community as 'a need to have'. Insurance companies have to do a better job, they've gotten better, but we still got to get better to stop limiting mental health resources," James said.
She also said finding more ways to keep children and teens busy outside of school is also important in efforts to cut down on gun violence among youth.
This increase in murder isn't just taking place in Winston-Salem. The numbers have nearly doubled in Greensboro. We reached out to Greensboro police to inquire about violent crime numbers as far as homicides are concerned.
The City of Greensboro has seen 60 murders so far, compared to 35 this time last year.