Philly Peace in Progress

Providing programs and resources that help children in west Philadelphia to better deal with obstacles they encounter throughout life. The support we offer and the skills that we teach will help children to resolve conflict, build resilience, and thereby decrease violence in our community. It’s time to make progress towards a stronger, better future…

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In 2023 there were 181 homicides in Philadelphia — equal to the combined totals in 2015 and 2016.

In 2023,

Philadelphia faced a concerning trend: despite an overall decline in gunshot victims, shootings increased among young people under the age of eighteen. Specifically:

Number of Young People Shot: The count rose from 212 in 2021 to 217 last year, according to data from the Philadelphia Police Department.
Comparison to Five Years Earlier: 80% more young people were shot last year compared to 2018, when there were 119 youth victims of gun violence.

It has been found that the average age of juvenile gun violence victims is fifteen, according to police department records.

Many incidents have been found to occur in broad daylight and involve multiple shooters. Some shootings may be linked to social media etc. Grassroots anti-violence activists emphasize the need for resources to reach young men who carry and use illegal firearms. The challenges faced by these youth stem from decades of neglect and systemic issues.