By: Lizzy Unger, Baltimore Corps Fellow

The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones and celebrate while looking ahead to the new year.  But for many Baltimore families, this time of year also brings deep sadness: they must move forward without missing loved ones that have been lost to street violence.

2015 has been the most violent year Baltimore has seen in decades, with over 344 homicides across the city.  This surge in homicides and violent crime has caused an incalculable ripple effect of increased trauma for Baltimore residents.  Recognizing this deep trauma, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has declared Baltimore a ‘trauma informed city’ and strives to help all city workers recognize the signs of trauma.

As this interactive map shows, many of the homicides occurred in the Park Heights area. On a frigid morning on November 22nd, families and community members gathered in Park Heights for a locally organized Rally Against Violence.   The purpose of the gathering was to remember the victims and support those whose lives have been forever changed by street violence, as well as to  send a unified message that enough is enough.  Attendees included Councilwoman Sharon Green-Middleton and State Senator Catherine Pugh, who joined with local community leaders including Neighborhoods United president George Mitchell.

One incident in particular had infuriated and saddened the community and has now catalyzed the need for change. On Monday November 9th, Kendal Fenwick, father of three, was shot and killed outside of his own home.  Kendal was working to build a fence to protect his family from the drug dealers who often hung out on his street and police suspect this may have motivated his murder.   This tragic incident exemplifies the challenges facing those who want to settle down in areas plagued by violence.

At the Baltimore City Health Department, we view violence as an epidemic that requires a public health response.  The patterns of how violence spreads often resemble how an epidemic spreads, with a higher concentration in certain areas.  Studies have shown that violence is contagious, with those who witness or are victims of violence more likely to perpetrate violence themselves.

Violence is also inextricably linked to drug use, poverty and our current drug policies. For example, synthetic marijuana use is on the rise in Baltimore and can lead to violent and erratic behavior. At the rally, I spoke on behalf of the Health Department about the dangers of synthetic drugs and opioid overdose, as well as what our efforts to combat the impact of substance use including: introducing legislation to penalize store owners for selling synthetic drugs and increasing access to the overdose reversing drug naloxone.

After speaking my colleague Kelleigh and I led trainings in how to save a life with naloxone.  We then provided prescriptions for naloxone to mothers and friends of heroin users, several of whom had witnessed overdoses.

In the face of tragedy, there is enormous power in coming together as a community and taking a stance against street violence. I was proud to be part of a conversation that was focused on hope and recovery.  Violence is often presented as an intractable challenge but at the health department we believe that violence can be addressed and mitigated just as any epidemic would.  Tackling violence requires all of us – community members, elected officials, city agencies—to stand together..  The rally ended with a unified message of hope: that things must and will change.