Safe City symposium unites Saginaw voices against youth violence
VCD was honored to welcome faith leaders, police officers, survivors and teenagers to Rita’s Southern Soul Café on Saturday, June 7, 2025, for our inaugural Safe City Community Symposium. Timed to coincide with National Gun Violence Awareness Month, we designed this breakfast forum to spark honest dialogue, foster mentorship and invite collective prayer around the urgent need to curb youth violence in Saginaw.
As part of our Youth Community Violence Prevention and Intervention Initiative (YCVPI), we structured a 90-minute program that blended solemn reflection with clear calls to action. Retired Saginaw County District Judge M.T. Thompson reminded everyone that early intervention, not harsher punishment, is the key to keeping young people out of the justice system. “When teenagers have consistent mentors, safe places to gather and opportunities to serve their neighborhoods, they’re far less likely to pick up a gun,” he said. “We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis; we have to reach kids before the first court date.”
We also heard from Tamara Tucker, leader of the Saginaw chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, whose courage in sharing her grief brought home the human cost of gun violence. Youth speakers then took the mic to offer personal testimonies, Assegid Mersha delivered a powerful spoken-word performance highlighting the impact of gun violence, and Officer Jordan Bady of the Saginaw Police Department outlined recent crime trends, highlighting local community-policing initiatives.
Reflecting on the turnout, our YCVPI Program Director, Eric Braddock, called it “a powerful reminder that Saginaw is ready to stand together.” Kristi Phillips, Executive Director of Victorious Community Development, added, “Our goal is to make the Safe City Community Symposium an annual event for Saginaw.” Building on the event’s success, VCD is now planning a series of summer workshops and youth activities focused on mentorship and conflict-mediation skills, ensuring that the momentum translates into real change on the ground.
We’re grateful to our event partners—the Saginaw Police Department, the Saginaw Public Schools Office of Family and Community Engagement, Parents of Murdered Children, our guests speakers, as well as Rita’s Southern Soul Cafe, who provided the venue and breakfast.
We at Victorious Community Development are proud to host this annual symposium, and we look forward to seeing you at next year’s Safe City Community Symposium. Events like this are vital not only during National Gun Violence Awareness Month but all year round. They strengthen the relationships and resources that empower Saginaw families to choose hope over hardship.
View more event pictures below:
