News

Actions

AdHoc Group Against Crime celebrates 40 years in Kansas City

Posted at 10:05 PM, May 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-03 23:33:16-04

The AdHoc Group Against Crime celebrated 40 years in the metro area on Wednesday.

The group was formed in November of 1977 as the city dealt with almost a dozen unsolved murders of black women.

"We've come a long way since then," explained founder Alvin Brooks on Wednesday. "The reason it was called was because of the fear in the African American community as related to these 10 homicides."

In the late 1970s, Brooks said team members brought new strategies to the metro area that are considered normal by today's standards.

"We kind of revolutionized that whole bit of crackhouses and running crack dealers out of the community, as well as holding prayer vigils," he said. "People said holding vigils doesn't do any good but it's part of the healing process." 

Brooks also explained that the group focused on bringing more police officers and attorneys into communities to get to know residents.

"There was a time when prosecutors didn't go out into the community and meet with families and groups," he said. "It happens now."

Decades later, he said the group now offers counseling services to family members of victims and continues to bridge the gap between police and neighbors.

"There's a grave difference now here 40 years later in relation to the police and the community," he explained. "It's not what it ought to be but it's far from what it was."

The group continues to work in neighborhoods often seeing violence.

Moving forward, President Damon Daniel said the AdHoc Group Against Crime planned to offer more resources and workshops to those areas.

"We really want to partner with local educational institutions, workforce development and businesses as well," he explained. "We've got to focus on conflict resolution and making sure our young people understand how to resolve conflict."

The 40th anniversary celebration of the AdHoc Group Against Crime was held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Brooks also celebrated recipients of the 2017 Guardian Angel Awards, honoring people who made contributions to volunteerism and philanthropy in the metro area.

-----------