Peirce community steps up anti-violence initiatives

by Amy Rhodes

The tragic death of Faheem Thomas-Childs has been a wake-up call to community residents and to School District, city, and state officials, who have taken action to address the violence that plagues many communities around Philadelphia's public schools.

Faheem, a third grader at T.M. Peirce Elementary School, was shot in the forehead when he was caught in the crossfire of two rival drug gangs while crossing the street to attend school. He died five days later. Crossing guard Debra Smith was also injured in the shoot-out.

Through community meetings, candlelight vigils, and an increased community presence on street corners around the school, neighborhood residents have joined others in the city, and even suburban residents, to take a stand against the violence in the community around Peirce Elementary at 23rd and Cambria.

Peirce Principal Shively D. Willingham 2nd said that the community response has been "tremendous."

"There's a lot people who are committed and recommitted to being determined that...this tragedy will not just go away and fade without something concrete coming out of it, to not help just the people here in this community, but other schools," Willingham said, noting that other District schools are also affected by violence in their surrounding communities.

Local community organizations and churches have been organizing residents to speak up against violence in the community, while citywide groups with experience in the neighborhood, including Men for a Better Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network (PAAN), have offered their support.

PAAN Executive Director Inez Love said that the community response to the tragedy is cause for hope that communities can come together to end the violence in their neighborhoods. "I think that the anger in people is what's going to make them move, make them respond, make them organized, and make them look for results," Love said.

"We may be able to save other children because now we've become preventative," she added.

The shooting has also spurred other proactive responses to the violence faced by many schools in the District.

The Institute for the Study of Civic Values is working with the District to place 100-150 participants in TANF (a welfare-to-work program) in positions at Parent Help Desks at about 50 elementary schools this school year. Although the Institute already places TANF recipients in some schools, Ed Schwartz, its president, said the effort will now be more systematic and reach more schools.

In addition to the Parent Help Desks, District officials have urged parents and community members to join other school-based safety initiatives, including Parent Patrols and the Safe Corridors program.

School District officials have also supported state legislation that would create "Safe School Zones," introduced by State Senators Vincent Fumo and Shirley Kitchen and State Representative Jewell Williams in response to the shooting.

The legislation would prohibit the possession, use, or control of a firearm within 1,000 feet of schools and 500 feet of recreation centers, playgrounds, or school transportation vehicles. It would require mandatory prison time for possession or discharge of a firearm in these zones.