In a series of roundtables hosted by Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, residents said the city is failing its people, and called for grassroots solutions.

The expansion of the program comes as D.C. sees its highest homicide count in 16 years.

Lashonia and Sean Thompson-El say that their marriage is part of the foundation that helps them support others and heal together from their past trauma.

Cotey Wynn, who started working as a violence interrupter with the office of D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine in 2018, was accused of shooting and killing 53-year-old Eric Linnair Wright in 2017.

“The work of violence interruption at its core is about reaching those who are most likely to either commit a violent crime or be the victim of one. It’s very relationship-focused work.”

“If you don’t feel that you have anything, then you may resort to doing anything.”