June 23, 2024 | Safe Streets program counters violence in Baltimore City

For nearly 20 years, a public health program known as “Safe Streets” has been working to reduce violence and deaths by gunfire in Baltimore City. Focusing on training community members in conflict mediation, Safe Streets operates in some of the most troubled area of the city. Catholic Charities of Baltimore runs four of the city’s 10 Safe Streets sites, overseeing Safe Streets offices in Penn-North, Brooklyn, Sandtown-Winchester and Cherry Hill. According to Catholic Charities, its Cherry Hill location has twice gone more than year without a death by gunfire. And the area served by the program’s Penn-North location has marked more than 500 days without a death by gunfire. George Matysek looks at Safe Streets with Kevin Keegan, who leads Catholic Charities’ Family Services Division, under which Safe Streets is housed. Also joining the interview is Greg Marshburn, director of Catholic Charities’ four Safe Streets sites.