GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It was not an easy childhood for Marcus McAllister. "I've witnessed more violence than I want to see in my lifetime," he said. "Throughout my life I bounced a little bit in California and a little bit in Chicago, been around it, those are two cities, LA and Chicago, where violence and gang are prevalent."
His life turned around when he got involved with the group Cure Violence.
"It changed my life, it allowed me to become a better man and father," said McAllister.
City leaders now want to bring that type of change to Grand Rapids. A public meeting was held Monday, Dec. 10, to discuss the issue.
"We take a health approach to preventing violence, which is about meeting people one on one where they are at," explained Charlie Sanford with Cure Violence. "The most high risk people involved in violence, and working with them to address whatever issues they have in their life to change their behaviors."
Durham, North Carolina saw a 60 percent drop in violent crime after they adopted the program which includes three key steps: interrupt transmission, reduce highest risk and change community norms.
The program would cost Grand Rapids between $300,000 and $400,000, which would allow dedicated workers on the issue -- like a violence interrupter.
"A person can go to a violence interrupter and say, 'can you help me settle this problem I have, this person is coming at me and I want to come back at them' so we offer an alternative so that we can sit the parties down and work the problem out," said Sanford.
Another public meeting on the issue will be held Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Kroc Center on South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids. The session runs from 6 - 8 p.m.
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