Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined the Youth Advocate Programs Inc.’s (YAP) Inc.’s Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) team over the weekend to celebrate the project’s achievements in community violence reduction.

YAP is a non-profit dedicated to serving members of the community who are at the highest risk of engaging in violent activities, including those involved with gangs, those grieving the loss of a loved one due to gun violence, and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Mayor Scott thanked the GVRS team’s commitment to helping program participants secure employment, find stable housing, rekindle connections with family, as well as achieve other personal milestones linked to reducing violence in the community.

“As we are talking this morning, homicides are down another 24% in Baltimore City. Non-fatal shootings are down another 34% in Baltimore City. And that, of course, [is]on top of the historical 20% reduction in homicides last year. This reduction would not have been possible without the work being done through GVRS,” Scott said.

As of Nov. 12, 193 participants have enrolled in GVRS services since the organization’s launch.

“It’s been about helping people make the right choices, relying on Baltimore and to have made the right choice to step away from that life and get themselves back on track. That’s what you guys do each and every day,” Scott said.

According to Scott, GVRS’s success stems from treating violence as a public health issue.

“Our progress that we have done together is Baltimore’s progress,” Scott said about the group’s successes.

Have a news tip. Contact Lori Rampani at lrampani@sbgtv.com.