Kevin Muhammad, a minister of the Nation of Islam, speaks during a rally at Miller Park in this file photo.IF YOU GOWhat: Sacrifice SaturdayWhen: Starts at 11:30 a.m. SaturdayWhere: 100 block of West 38th Street
A local faith leader says violence develops from a bigger problem.
"We have to deal with the root cause of us turning our backs against God," said local Nation of Islam Leader Kevin Muhammad. "We have to come back to a God-centered relationship and rebuild."
A coalition of neighbors calling itself We Are The Ones is calling for all people who are concerned about their community to give to learn how to help their neighbors.
Sacrifice Saturday starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of West 38th Street.
"This is ground zero," said Muhammad.
He's asking for everyone who concerned to come, regardless of religious beliefs, race or economic background. Participants will knock on doors to build relationships with people living where violence occurred.
The event gets under way within walking distance of where 28-year-old Terrence Lebron Bivens was shot dead on Central Avenue, marking the 86th shooting and 25th homicide of 2014.
Blevins was among 16 people shot and five killed between Oct. 20 and Oct. 27.
On the same street, Nadia Renee Hatten/Brooks was charged with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting assault of Kevin LeVerne Smith in what police called domestic violence.
The walk occurs in a community where the crime rate is more than twice the national average. Fewer than 30 percent of residents age 18 and older graduated from high school and 69 percent of the population lives in poverty, according to City-Data.com and realtor.com.
Sacrifice Saturday is among several community efforts to curb violence within the past week.
Ministers marched and prayed on M.L. King Boulevard on Monday. And Olivet Baptist Church Pastor Kevin Adams hosted a community meeting on Thursday.
No one group or person has the answer, Muhammad said, and finding solutions requires people working together.
At Sacrifice Saturday volunteers will collect donations for the Bivens family.
Music will play and speakers will have an open mic in the parking lot.
Then the group intends to visit and hear resident concerns.
After listening participants will strategize how to help, said Muhammad.
"Marching is good, but we have to build relationships" he said. "We have to look into their eyes, listen from their point of view what is creating the conditions in the community. And then share a message of love and hope."
Charlotte Williams, pastor of Eastdale Community Village United Methodist Church, said she is organizing a walk for church women on Thursday.
"Knocking on doors is like knocking down the wall of what has divided us for so long," said Williams. "Whether it be class, education, religion knocking on doors builds relationship and trust.
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.