Creative Visions call to action against gun violence

DES MOINES, Iowa– Across the metro, many community organizations have fought tirelessly to address gun violence. In 2021, the City of Des Moines awarded a grant to Creative Visions to provide a program that works within local neighborhoods to combat acts of violence.

The organization provides resources and counseling for victims and their families. They also provide assistance to innocent’s who are impacted by criminal acts. The nonprofit works to connect and support those working within the community and provide educators and youth the resources to take action against violence issues.

Through the program they reach out to young people and teach them about controlling and handing their emotions in a healthy way. They also teach conflict resolution skills, promoting using words instead of weapons.

“So, we like to teach gun safety, we like to also teach emotional intelligence so that people can actually start navigating through their emotions and using other ways of dealing with conflict versus actually pulling out a gun. That actually is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” said Timothy McCoy, Director of the violence interruption project at Creative Visions.

McCoy says the problem is larger than one agency, and that it is important for the community to stand in solidarity against gun violence, rather than allowing these acts to become an expected part of life.

To learn more about Creative Visions and their mission visit their website.

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