City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday,
July 10, 2023) – Choose Wisdom.
Those words, alongside powerful imagery, have popped up across Rochester as
part of a communications campaign created by the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP)
and local filmmaker Shabaka Mu Ausar. Through its continually updated website, www.RocOVP.com, the campaign captures and shares the voices of
Rochesterians who have grappled with violence and important life choices,
elevates awareness of resources that are available through OVP, and encourages
people to get involved to help others.
“My team and I hear powerful stories every day, and we wanted to share these perspectives with people across the city,” said Victor Saunders, the City’s Advisor on Violence Prevention. “Many people think they’re alone in their experiences, but we want them to know that we understand where they’re coming from and that help is available. This campaign is designed to help people ‘Choose Wisdom’ and encourage them to spread their own wisdom to help prevent further violence in our neighborhoods.”
OVP offers numerous resources including:
- Pathways to Peace, a street outreach program that provides support and nonviolent alternatives for youth who are resorting to violence to settle disputes or are becoming involved in gangs and drugs;
- Reentry Program, which provides individuals with critical resources and services necessary to successfully navigate and transition from prison to a life of freedom;
- Advance Peace – Peacemaker Fellowship, an urban gun violence disruption strategy that works to end cyclical and retaliatory gun violence by investing in the development, health and wellbeing of young people at the center of the violence crisis;
- Rochester Peace Collective, a collaborative effort of currently 20 organizations that guides investments from local funders into innovative and proven programs that work to prevent violent crimes; and
- Office of Neighborhood Safety, which serves as a central hub to coordinate a community-wide Violence Reduction Strategy that will guide public and private sector investments in social programs.
The current centerpiece of the campaign’s website is a 3-minute short film created by Mu Ausar, who is well known for his documentary “Young Black Male.” Mu Ausar will continue working closely with Saunders and his team to capture and share additional voices, stories, and resources. The website will be continuously updated throughout the coming year.
As campaign consultant and community leader Amen Ptah said in his interview in the OVP short film, “To me, ‘Choose Wisdom’ means to pull from your experiences and use them to your advantage.”
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