WASHINGTON — Inside Momma's Safe Haven Wednesday night, the topic of discussion was one that makes headlines daily in the District: Gun violence.
"They say each one teach one, but you gotta reach one first," said Beverly Smith to the group.
Smith is the founder of the nonprofit organization, which has been around for about 10 years but just moved into a new location on Half Street in Southwest, D.C.
Wednesday night began with a pledge to not use a gun. They then discussed how gun violence has impacted each of them.
"I seen a young man during the pandemic who was gunned down right in front of my apartment. I prayed and I prayed and I just saw him just laying on the concrete just lifeless," said Rhonda Hamilton. Hamilton is an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and also the President of Syphax Gardens.
"I was shot in the leg in broad daylight," said Tasha McNeely. She told WUSA9 it happened a few years ago, on Half Street not far from Momma's Safe Haven.
"I was scared for my mother's life," her son Erin told WUSA9.
He turns 11 on Monday but is already battling so much trauma because of what happened to his Mom.
"It makes me feel, like, it's hard for me to even come outside without that thought," he said.
Helping kids and the community through traumas like that is what the organization is all about explained Smith. She says making sure that trauma doesn't lead them to pick up a gun is also a goal.
"We don't want them to feel like that's the answer," said Smith.
She told WUSA9 they plan to offer things like yoga, meditation, cooking and even barber classes at the facility.