06/08/2026
We are heartbroken by the loss of two young lives to gun violence in our community. There are no words that can fully capture the pain their families, friends, classmates, and loved ones are experiencing at this moment. Every young person lost to violence is a tragedy, and every loss leaves a lasting wound on our community.
As a grieving mother and as the Executive Director of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, I know that behind every headline is a family whose life has been changed forever. Today, our hearts are with those families as they navigate unimaginable grief.
At the same time, we must resist the urge to accept these tragedies as normal. The loss of young people to violence should never become routine. These incidents remind us that violence prevention requires all of us. Families, schools, community organizations, healthcare systems, law enforcement, elected officials, faith leaders, and residents all have a role to play in creating safer communities for our children.
We know that progress is possible. In recent years, our community has demonstrated that when we invest in prevention, mentorship, healing, economic opportunity, and trusted community leadership, lives can be saved. We must remain committed to that work even in moments of heartbreak.
Today, we mourn. Tomorrow, we must act. We must recommit ourselves to prevention, to intervention, to supporting our young people, and to building a community where every child feels safe, valued, and supported. We cannot allow another family to experience this pain without doing everything in our power to prevent the next tragedy.
Let this moment be more than grief. Let it be a call to action for all of us. Together, we must ensure that every young person in Allentown has the opportunity to live, grow, and thrive.
Jeani Garcia
Executive Director
Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley
