How community activism is helping reduce Columbus murder rates
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Giving back is at the top of mind for many throughout the holiday season, but for some members of our community, giving back to others is their full-time job and it seems to be saving lives.
Police and community leaders are crediting this year's significant decrease in homicide numbers to collaboration between the community. Columbus Police data shows the city’s homicide numbers are the lowest they’ve been year-to-date since 2019.
Giving back is all about making a difference in the community and that is exactly what Columbus’ anti-violence organizations are doing.
“Giving is time as well,” said Ralph Carter, the founder of We Are Linden.
Carter said that just showing up to volunteer can make the biggest difference. He said he has seen a shift in the community this year.
“You see the response, right, is power and collaboration,” Carter said. “Collaboration is key and is going to take us to get us out of this issue.:”
Malissa Thomas-St. Clair, the founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, said the group is an unfortunate sisterhood, but one she will not give up on.
“By using our pain for purpose, it allows us to see our legacy of our child who was taken by violence and it replaces that violence with the gift of giving,” Thomas-St.Clair said.
Both groups have played a key role in slowing violence this year across Columbus. Thomas-St. Clair said three of the group’s biggest initiatives are going to the communities where violence occurs to make their presence known through their community coverings, supporting their community partners and wrapping their arms around the city’s youth.
Thomas-St. Clair said giving back is so important to her because even though the mothers in MOMCC have experienced true pain, helping others dims that darkness in their life.
“Being able to support mothers who have already been affected by violence, by losing their children,” she said. “A lot of times, people think that we are a grief support, but we are an organization that learns how to live again.”
Carter and We Are Linden also do a lot of work with the youth. He said that this year, they have employed hundreds of kids not just to keep them away from trouble but to help them learn responsibility, with one of the group’s biggest initiatives this year being We Are Cleaning. If the community looks cleaner, people will want to treat it better, Carter said.
“It gives the young people something to look forward to, knowing that they have something to be involved in that's positive,” he said. “Of course, money is always great, right? You know, who doesn't want a good pair of shoes that they buy themself or, you know, be a part of our J’s for A’s initiative where they can get a free pair of shoes for having good grades.”
Both leaders said their work is never over; 13 people were killed in the city last month.
Both said if you would like to give back, that doesn’t always have to be money – giving your time helps just as much, if not more.
“It starts a chain reaction and that's what we need,” Thomas-St. Clair said. “We need just a lot of love in this community right now.”
The Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children has one of its community events Sunday in Linden, where they will give out winter items to the community as well as push the message of positivity, peace, prayer and protection.
We Are Linden has its community love toy drive until Dec. 13 and is encouraging the community to donate toys for families in need this holiday season.
Both groups say they are always looking for new volunteers as well as monetary support to help their missions.
More information can be found on the group's websites: MOMCC and We Are Linden.