In the wake of the gun violence last fall that claimed the life of 15-year-old Aaron Richardson, community leaders came together to discuss a comprehensive response that would focus on the systemic causes of gun violence and poverty, with hopes their work would make a lasting impact on the community.

As a result, the Safe, Equitable, and Thriving Communities Task Force was born in January. The SET Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional committee charged with addressing the systemic causes of poverty and gun violence in the Linn County area.

Co-chaired by former Kennedy High School Principal Mary Wilcynski and community leader Stacey Walker, the 19-member Task Force plans to present recommendations on poverty, gun violence and related challenges in our city, district and county no later than 2017. 

Today we present an update from each of the six subcommittees we have formed.

We’re proud to report the work of the task force is off to a great start. Though we realize one task force alone cannot fully resolve all the causes and devastating effects of gun violence, poverty and related issues in a single year, we believe our recommendations will provide a starting point for longer-term solutions. 

Already we have forged promising new partnerships across industries and organizations. The unsung leaders in our most troubled neighborhoods finally have a platform from which to voice their thoughts. The difficult, nuanced work of community-building has just begun.

To continue reading this guest post by Mary Wilcynski and Stacey Walker, go to: http://www.thegazette.com/subj...ress-report-20160424