Wear Orange Day to Spotlight National Gun Violence Awareness

Orange awareness ribbon for gun violence awareness

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month and today is Wear Orange Day which gives additional spotlight to community and individual efforts to decrease gun violence. Bright orange, is the color of gun violence awareness.

Mecklenburg County Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) is in its second full year of operation. “We are committed to growing the ecosystem of awareness and action to prevent community violence,” said Tracie Campbell, who leads OVP. “Our team has been very busy with engagements of our partners and our residents. It’s going to take each and every one of us to create change and make our community a safer place for all of us.”

OVP and partners have events planned throughout the month. Engagement and educational opportunities will be available throughout June, including:

  • June 7 – Wear Orange Day – encouraging all to show unity by wearing orange to promote gun violence awareness.
     
  • June 8, 10 a.m. – Community Walk by Moms Demand Action at First Ward Park.
     
  • June 9 – Block Love Car show – distribute information resources and gun locks.
     
  • June 15 – Hoskins Celebration of Kings – distribute information resources and gun locks.
     
  • June 17 – CVPC Community Chat Hour – for community-based organizations and Carolina Violence Prevention Collaborative members to come together and network and learn about new resources and opportunities Location: TBD.
     
  • June 17, 6:30 p.m. – Community Conversation gathering at Lakehaven Baptist Church 12000 Tuscaloosa, Huntersville. Distribute information resources and gun locks.
     
  • June 20, 6 p.m. – The Way Forward Strategic Plan Advisory group meeting at Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2986 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC 28215 – gathering of community organizations, government representatives, and others who are working on accomplishing the strategies set in The Way Forward strategic plan.

There will also be “Violence Free Zone” markings on sidewalks throughout the County, especially in priority zones. On June 1, OVP graduated its second cohort of Peacekeepers Academy, a learning series designed to support grassroots organizations that are working to curb violence in the community.

“I am very proud of our work in OVP. Mecklenburg County Public Health was the first in the state to establish this office and implement the vision of addressing community violence as a public health threat,” said Dr. Kimberly Scott, Mecklenburg County Assistant Public Health Director. “I hope residents will join us today and wear orange. We want everyone in this community to join the movement to stop the violence. It’s the responsibility of each one of us and the work must continue for years to come.”