“Today’s issues are deeply rooted in both historic legal precedent, including an inequitable criminal justice system and the right to vote, and systemic disparities in public education, health care, employment and housing. Community trauma cannot be simply turned off like a light switch—dimming can only occur when ALL of us work together to address each of these systemic issues as a nation.”
Candi Castleberry Singleton, founder and CEO, Dignity & Respect, Inc.
“A focus on community healing is extremely important. Our communities need to know what tools and resources are available to them as they face emotional trauma due to what’s happening in their neighborhoods and in the world.”
Kyshira Moffett, president, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Young Professionals
“For generations, our region has been successful when it has worked together. Now more than ever, we must come together to address community trauma so that, in our healing, everyone has the opportunity to share in our successes.”
Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive
“YWCA Greater Pittsburgh offers our support to all individuals experiencing pain and loss. While we mourn together, we hope to be a partner in creating a community that advances equity, safety and mutual understanding.”
Magdeline E. Jensen, CEO, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
“Over the last month we have witnessed the tragic shooting deaths of individuals in Baton Rouge, La.; St. Paul, Minn.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Dallas, Texas. With each death we have had to grapple with the complexities that threaten to disrupt and jeopardize the trust and emotional health of our community. Regardless of our place of origin, our role within organizations or our political orientation, what binds us is our collective affiliation with the Pittsburgh community. When polarizing, controversial events occur, we want to offer a response that reflects the diverse and inclusive culture of our community.”
James E. Taylor, PhD, chief diversity and inclusion officer, UPMC
“The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and the Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence remain committed to do all we can to join with all potential partners and the implementation of the approximately 800 strategies that we have developed over the past few years to impact violence across all levels of society. The continued violence within our community and between the community/police must cease and desist. The trauma that results is unacceptable. Even in the midst of frustration and upset, we cannot afford to stop our collective efforts to end violence.”
Tim Stevens, Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence
“We are very fortunate to have community advocates and members of law enforcement in Western Pennsylvania who are committed to listening, willing to admit fault and open to change. United, we can control our destiny as one community. We must not allow individual conflicts or negativity to destroy us, define us or prevent us from moving forward together.”
David Hickton, United States attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania
“We must learn to love one another. We must bring to life the words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: ‘Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars…Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that…Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.’”
Esther L. Bush, president and CEO, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
“Whenever there’s a school shooting, we see grief counselors helping students address the trauma. But in the community, where repeated shootings leave whole neighborhoods traumatized, you never see that—until now. I’m pleased to see the Heinz Endowments’ grant to the Allegheny County Health Department that will help create a Trauma Response Team to finally address this as a public health issue.”
Rod Doss, editor and publisher, New Pittsburgh Courier
“When one person in our community suffers, we all suffer. So together we must offer and receive healing. Pray for peace, practice kindness and work at reconciliation.”
Bishop David A. Zubik, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The way we get through difficult times is by working together, not separating. We must have a shared commitment to healing through listening, understanding and unifying.”
William Peduto, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
“FISA Foundation is focused on improving the lives of women, girls and people with disabilities and recognizes that abuse and trauma are issues desperately in need of attention in our communities. That is why we have come together with many community partners and institutions to find research-informed, locally relevant responses that strengthen our connections, reduce trauma and promote healing.”
Kristy Trautmann, executive director, FISA Foundation
We should be thinking about relationship networks that are affected by violence. These networks cross geographic and family boundaries. With the speed and intensity of electronic social networking, we need to recognize that a traumatic event in one neighborhood affects a large network of other teens and adults across Pittsburgh and within a network of emotionally and socially interwoven relationships. Building resiliency then means thinking more broadly about how to strengthen these social networks to promote peace and reduce violence.”
Walter Smith, director, Children Youth and Families, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
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