LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — Community members gathered at Nicolet Park on June 28 for Community Violence Prevention Day, a local event focused on promoting safety, resilience and unity through collaboration among law enforcement, health officials and neighborhood leaders.
Organized by the Violence, Injury and Trauma (VIT) Unit of the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the event featured family-friendly activities alongside conversations about the root causes of violence. Residents enjoyed food from local vendors, games, face painting, music and giveaways of free gun locks and gun safes, while learning about programs that build stronger community ties.
In opening remarks, Michelle Pottinger, director of the VIT Unit, emphasized the purpose of the event. “Today is a reminder that community matters and that prevention is possible. It takes all of us working together, from law enforcement to public health, to health care, from community leaders to families, to create lasting change.”
Pottinger recognized key partners, including the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Group Violence Intervention Program, for their dedication to proactive, community-centered solutions. She highlighted the importance of “boots-on-the-ground” work from the intervention team in addressing the everyday realities of violence.
“Our goal today is to connect the community and to build a positive relationship, not only with the community, but also with law enforcement and public health services,” Pottinger said. “Those partnerships strengthen our community because it allows us to see what the need is in the community, it allows us to connect face to face with the members of our community, and it allows us to advocate on what is additionally needed to support our community, to make our community safe, and to bridge those gaps.”
The Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Team plays a critical role in Community Violence Prevention Day and St. Mary’s County’s broader efforts to reduce gun violence. GVI is an evidence-based program focused on the small number of groups at the highest risk for violent victimization and offending, aiming to disrupt cycles of violence by connecting at-risk individuals with community support and resources to empower them toward a violence-free lifestyle.
St. Mary’s County Commissioner Scott Ostrow read a proclamation officially recognizing Community Violence Prevention Day, describing the event as a call for collective action. “Your presence here today sends a powerful message that we are united and committed to building a safer, stronger St. Mary’s County,” Ostrow said. He stressed the need to address violence through connection, listening, investing in mental health and ensuring opportunities for education and advancement. “Safety doesn’t come from more fear,” he told the audience. “It comes from more hope.”
Sheriff Steve Hall spoke candidly about conversations his team had with young people at risk. “When these amazing people go into the community and find young people who have made the decision to pick up a gun, and they ask them why, they hear, ‘You’ve got to be hard,’” Hall said. He challenged that mindset, adding that the hardest people he knows are the ones who put the gun down and walk away.
“As violent crime is concerned, the biggest trend that concerns us is the young people that have access to these weapons, and they’re making decisions to pick them up,” Hall said. “They’re not, by law, able to possess them, and they’re using them as tools of terror in our community.”
Community Violence Prevention Day served as a powerful reminder of the importance of collective action to address gun violence. Hall said that by bringing together residents, faith leaders, law enforcement and health officials, the event created space for dialogue and encouraged every segment of the community to invest in safer neighborhoods.
“It literally affects us all,” Hall said. “Everybody’s willingness to be here, to take their time and give their time and talent toward something that is this important, warms my heart. They want to be heard, they want to be seen, and they want to contribute to getting rid of this scourge that affects this community.”
Deputy Health Officer Dr. Stephanie Harper also addressed the crowd with a call to courage and nonviolence, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. as she urged the community to take an active role in prevention. “Our presence here today says we courageously choose nonviolence,” she said. Harper underscored the fact that violence is not only a criminal justice issue but a public health crisis, pointing to links between violence exposure and chronic diseases, mental health struggles and poor life outcomes.
Pastor James Bell, from God’s House of Refuge, led a moment of silence and prayer for victims of violence, asking for healing and courage for all gathered. As the event continued with youth performances and local vendor booths, organizers encouraged residents to stay involved through volunteerism, mentorship and ongoing advocacy.
Through collective commitment, speakers stressed, the community can foster peace, opportunity and hope for all who call St. Mary’s County home.
A Community Engaged With Purpose
Deandre Tillery, performing with the music collective Public Domain for Community Violence Prevention Day, emphasized the importance of community events like this in fostering unity and overcoming fear caused by violence. He described how violence discourages parents from bringing children into public spaces and how gatherings that center around music can rebuild community bonds. Tillery shared that music has been a powerful escape and a unifying force in his own life, helping people process struggles and bringing them together through shared feeling and rhythm. He also reflected on hip-hop’s potential to move beyond negative stereotypes and inspire creativity and connection.
“Violence is never the answer, of course, but more specifically, we definitely need community more than ever. We need unity more than ever. We need togetherness more than ever,” Tillery said. “We’re living in times that are just reckless, weird and wicked, and we need each other to really break that cycle.”
Linval Topey of Great Mills shared that he attended to support community unity and learn more about safety measures to help prevent violence. He emphasized the importance of involving young people in events like this to encourage peace and awareness. Topey noted that the resources provided, such as gun safety boxes and locks, are essential for securing firearms at home and promoting responsible gun ownership.
“A lot of people have weapons in their house, and they don’t have a box and nothing to store it in,” Topey said. “This is very good for people to come over here and get a box, get a lock, and talk to people who know about safety, so they can teach us more about safety and guns.”
Juan Naranjo of Charlotte Hall shared that gatherings like this one bring people of diverse backgrounds together, helping them recognize shared goals — especially keeping families safe — and fostering community unity. He highlighted helpful resources available at the event, including programs like Healthy Families from the health department and the Gideons’ Bible distribution efforts. Naranjo also emphasized the importance of securing firearms with safety boxes and locks to prevent tragic accidents involving children.
“Gathering people from everywhere in the community makes us safer because we come together. And when the community comes together, we realize that we have more things in common,” Naranjo said. “We all have the same goal of having safety for our families.”
From Awareness to Action: St. Mary’s Steps Up
At Community Violence Prevention Day at Nicolet Park, attendees gained new connections, resources and a shared commitment to fostering a safer, more united St. Mary’s County. The day’s conversations and activities reinforced that real change begins when neighbors, leaders and organizations work together. By building trust and empowering youth, the community took an important step toward breaking cycles of violence and creating a future rooted in hope and peace.
“Violence in all forms hurts not just individuals, but entire families and neighborhoods. It tears at the fabric of our community,” Commissioner Ostrow said. “But today, we stand together as parents, neighbors, faith leaders, educators, law enforcement and advocates to say enough is enough. Prevention starts with connection. It starts with listening to our young people, investing in mental health, ensuring access to education and opportunity, and building trust in every corner of our county.”
Divine Divas Majorettes: A Sisterhood Dancing in Solidarity With Community
Whitney McMillan, lead instructor of the Divine Divas Majorettes dance team in Lexington Park, emphasized that partnerships between organizations like hers, law enforcement and residents are key to maintaining a safe environment and preventing youth from turning to negative influences. She spoke about how the group was created to give local girls, from teenagers to young children, a positive, creative outlet. She explained that the Divine Divas were formed just a few months ago to build a sense of sisterhood and keep kids engaged in activities that steer them away from violence.
“I knew that this was a great thing to support the youth, as far as bringing them together and seeing a young dance team perform, maybe give another person a good idea to start something else within the community,” McMillan said. “I hope they can learn to support the youth and come together as one.”
The Divine Divas Majorettes performed dance routines, with music and freestyle microphone conducting by Public Domain, at Community Violence Prevention Day to showcase how dance can unite and inspire young people. Their performance brought energy and joy to the event while offering a model for how creative programs can build community and keep youth engaged in positive activities.
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lets also work on criminal justice reform, please
I was there and this was a great event. I saw an article about Baltimore having a program like this and the positive changes it has made. Maybe Mr. Wiberg can find out more about the Baltimore program and report what he finds. One thing I did notice was MSP Lt Rosignol, SA’s office Jaymi Sterling were missing. They did attend the SMCSO violence prevention event at the Bay district firehouse. The one group I have never seen at events like is the Judges. They are a part of the community and have a big impact on violence prevention.