WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, parents who have lost children to gun violence sat side by side with city officials, community leaders, and violence prevention workers at the second annual Healing Communities Symposium, hosted by the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE).
The event, held on July 19, 2025, centered on the often-overlooked stage of gun violence recovery: what happens after the sirens fade, crime scene tape is removed, and support from the public dies down. With gun violence continuing to claim lives across Washington, D.C., ONSE’s symposium served as a space for reflection, healing, and strategy.
A Space for Healing and Recovery
The all-day summit offered a range of therapeutic activities including yoga, massage therapy, sound meditation, and art therapy—targeted at those still grappling with trauma. The aim was not just to address grief, but to help communities move forward through collective care and support.
“This is the part of the work we really don’t talk about or see,” said Kwelli Sneed, Executive Director of ONSE, in an interview with 7News. “We’re hoping more community organizations will join us—not just in this moment, but in this movement.”
Gun Violence Prevention Beyond the Headlines
The symposium also sparked important conversations about what’s being done to prevent gun violence in the first place. 7News posed a critical question to various officials and violence interrupters: What are you doing to stop the shootings that lead to these moments of grief?
For Myron Jones, the work is personal. A member of the violence intervention community, Jones has lived the very trauma the event was meant to address.
“I recently lost a son and had a son shot to gun violence,” he shared. “To me, it’s gratifying in a sense when a patient comes in and I’m in that room. Most recently, it was my own son. I get to relate to a lot of these families.”
His firsthand experience drives his mission to stop the cycle of violence before it starts.
Gaps in School Safety Highlighted
In the wake of a report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding gun violence and D.C. Public Schools (DCPS), concerns have grown about gaps in the city’s prevention strategy. The OIG report pointed out that schools are largely excluded from coordinated citywide efforts to reduce gun violence—leaving vulnerable youth without needed resources or intervention.
Sneed acknowledged the issue, emphasizing ONSE’s role as a connector.
“ONSE has been on the cusp of that—we’re a convener,” she said. “The answer rests in the community.”
Jones agrees. He believes the integration of violence prevention within schools is vital.
“I definitely agree with that because now there’s violence growing in these schools,” he said. “You have to prioritize education with safety.”
A Call to Action
While Saturday’s event offered comfort, it also served as a rallying cry. ONSE and its partners are urging more organizations and individuals to not only support events like the symposium but to take active roles in prevention and policy.
This year’s symposium underscored that healing and prevention go hand-in-hand. Community members, especially those who have lived through unimaginable loss, are stepping up as leaders in the movement against violence. But as they emphasized on Saturday, they cannot do it alone.
For more information on ONSE and how to get involved with community violence prevention efforts, visit the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s official website.
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