Those in political office can do many things for their constituents. I, as a state official, can propose or support laws that benefit my local communities. I can assist local communities with grant applications and can advocate for these grants by being a “squeaky wheel” in the process as many communities and many organizations try to get a share of the available funds.
I can work along with my staff to make sure residents can navigate through state agencies, something I enjoy very much. It is truly heartwarming to have someone thank us for helping them get the unemployment benefits they deserve or the handicapped permit that they have been having trouble obtaining.
Another thing that a public official can do is promote all the good work that people in the district or organizations in our communities do to make our area a better place. Sometimes, we can bring an issue or good deeds to light in ways that the people involved may not otherwise be able to do themselves. I have discovered that many residents are not even aware of the work being done by some of the groups in our communities. Just as I will always encourage you to know more about, and to support, our local volunteer fire companies, I think it is important to be aware of the charitable organizations that are trying to improve the lives of people in our communities and thus improving our communities as a whole.
Last week I met with a group of people that represents several organizations working with youth in our area to help stop gun violence. Mercifully, and through the hard work of so many dedicated people, there was a significant decline in gun violence and gun-related deaths in our district in 2025.
Efforts to stop gun violence involve educating and mentoring our youth, teaching them that there are alternatives to certain lifestyles, and ways to make good lives for themselves. Too often some of our youth see only the stark conditions in front of them. They may see criminal activity as a way out of the poverty they are experiencing, or a way to achieve a certain lifestyle that appeals to them. Youth who turn to criminal activity can come from any economic background. Some of our kids, however, see violence every day. They may not see a way out of their immediate world.
Much of the safety net these children have comes from their school environment. There they are fed, educated and able to socialize in a safe environment. Once they leave school, the situation can change.
That’s where community mentor groups come in. They provide resources to children and parents, enabling families to provide stability at home. I have had the opportunity to get to know many of the organizations that seek to help our vulnerable youth.
One such group is Amachi Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that serves children impacted with familial incarceration and community violence. Their goal is to help young people heal, build resilience and set long-term goals of success. Amachi works with school districts, community organizations and volunteer mentors to bring in-school programming, family engagement and one-on-one mentoring to kids in need.
Another organization is Cure Violence, which looks at violence as a contagious disease and works to teach people skills to help stop violence before situations escalate. This group focuses on mobilizing communities to stop neighborhood violence and works to help achieve behavioral changes.
BAM (Becoming a Man) works with young men in grades 7–12. The focus is to build positive identity in these kids, teach them about good decision making and social skills, as well as learning about emotional regulation. The goal is to keep kids in school and in good relationships — and out of the justice system.
ACTES (Achieving Change Through Transitional Employment Services) works with men, ages 18-32, who have faced challenges such as homelessness, trauma or past system involvement. A particular focus is on men who have a high risk of gun violence involvement.
MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder) is another group that works in our communities to mobilize and train men to work in the neighborhoods on the issues of drugs, gangs and violence. These good men act as positive role models in working to save and build up our communities.
And of course, there is the FOR (Focus on Renewal). This organization has provided a safe spot for the youngest to the oldest residents to learn and receive help, from food, employment services and addiction services to art and craft lessons, nutrition and computer classes, and a library full of literature and helpful information.
Good people doing good things. Good people using their time to mentor our youth and help build better communities. These folks are heroes. And this is by no means a complete list of organizations working to prevent violence in our communities.
So many other organizations in our communities work to help our young people. This column has focused on some that seek to stem gun violence. I look forward to highlighting more organizations that mentor our young people in future articles.
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