Philadelphia nonprofit plans to hit streets for 28 nights in February to help reduce gun violence

A Philadelphia nonprofit, Taylor MADE Opportunities, is set to engage with some of the city's hardest-hit neighborhoods throughout February in a mission to foster peace and support those affected by gun violence. This initiative, led by the Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, focuses on connecting with community members and offering resources to help improve their lives.

Named "Corners to Connections," the program brings together activists, faith leaders, and gun violence survivors to engage directly with individuals on the streets. The initiative is built around five core pillars: healing, hiring, harmony, housing, and hope, which founder G. Lamar Stewart believes can effectively transform lives.

One key participant in this initiative is Angela Wade, who is personally driven to join the cause after losing her son, Joseph Daniels III, to gun violence in 2019. As a community activist who sought to uplift local youth, her son’s legacy inspires her commitment to helping others. Wade hopes to channel her ongoing grief into a purposeful mission to prevent similar tragedies.

Wade's involvement highlights the personal stakes and emotional depth of the initiative, as she aims to honor her son's memory through action. "I ask God every day to allow me to continue to feel that pain so it can produce that purpose of going and helping somebody else not have to live this life," she expressed.

The program will launch with its first outreach event on Saturday at 9 p.m. at Broad and Erie streets in North Philadelphia, kicking off a series of 28 nights dedicated to outreach across the city. This sustained effort aims not only to interrupt the cycle of gun violence but also to instill hope and change within the community.