Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Peacemakers group urges council to retain curfew and support street‑level intervention
Summary
Sean Hunter of the Lynchburg Peacemakers described a neighborhood intervention program that has placed young men in jobs, installed cameras and asked council to keep the city's curfew and partner with community groups on violence prevention.
Sean Hunter, president and CEO of the Peacemakers, addressed Lynchburg City Council during public comment on Jan. 14 to describe local street‑level intervention work and to endorse keeping the city's juvenile curfew.
Hunter said the organization, formed in 2023, had helped place 66 young men in jobs, installed 88 cameras in high‑crime areas for vulnerable residents and worked directly with young people involved in violence. He described the Peacemakers’ use of direct outreach to engage young people and offer paid work, and he urged council support for curfew enforcement as part of a broader strategy to reduce youth violence.
"The curfew is good. Keep it in place," Hunter said, adding that the organization was ready to collaborate with city officials and neighborhood leaders. Hunter also called for attention to conflict‑resolution programming and for city partnership to scale community efforts.
Council did not take formal action on the comments; the remarks were made during the public comment portion of the meeting and were taken under advisement.
