Felipe Perez, a case worker with GRASP (Gang Rescue and Support Project), addressed community members who gathered on East Colfax to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day two weeks after a shooting in Montbello.

Two weeks after a teen was fatally shot at a rec center, community members marched for peace.

Just days after a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot by another teen at the Montbello Recreation Center, community members gathered on East Colfax for a peace march marking National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The timing gave the annual event added urgency and emotion as residents grappled with yet another act of youth violence and its ripple effects across the community.

Johnnie Williams, executive director of the nonprofit Denver Youth Program and one of the organizers of the march, said the shooting was especially difficult because recreation centers are widely viewed as safe havens for young people. “These kids need places like recreation centers to stay engaged, to stay out of trouble,” he continued. “The shooting was terrible, but a lot of good things happen at recreation centers.”

The march participants gathered on a hot Friday evening, carrying a message of healing, remembrance, and prevention. For many, the issue of gun violence is deeply personal. Lonnie Carter said he was marching because his nephew was killed 20 years ago at a fast-food restaurant at Colfax and Quebec. “His death was so senseless,” he said. “I’m here to remind people that life is precious and to make the most of every day.”

Others said the march was an opportunity to address the deeper causes of violence and advocate for long-term solutions. Felipe Perez, a case worker for a gang violence prevention program, said he was marching to ensure that cycles of violence are broken. “We’re in a society where we’re not healing. We put Band-aids on stuff,” he said. “But some of these young people are living with three or four generations of violence. Trauma is being passed down, and we’re not doing enough to stop that.”

Some participants expressed concern that repeated acts of gun violence have led to public fatigue and complacency. Suzanne Morris-Sherer, a former Denver Public Schools principal, volunteers with Colorado Ceasefire. “I’ve had kids (students) that were victims of gun violence, so it’s personal for me. We can’t just wait for someone else to do something. We have to be part of the solution,” said Morris-Sherer.

One of the ways Denver Youth Program works to prevent violence is by helping young people recognize and avoid dangerous situations before they escalate, said executive director Williams. He explained, “We ask them to think about, ‘What do I need to do to make it home safely every night? How do I move? Who am I hanging out with?’”

Johnnie Williams, executive director of the Denver Youth Program, plans to open a clinic on Colfax next year.

Denver Youth Program operates two REACH clinics in Denver that work with victims of gun violence, providing medical care, mental health support, food, and clothing. A third REACH clinic is expected to open next year in a long-vacant East Colfax storefront.

As the organization raises money to renovate the building, Williams has been hosting weekly Friday night cookouts at the site to build relationships with neighbors and learn what services residents would like the clinic to provide. “We are not going to shy away from other needs that the community has,” he said. “And we’ll be looking for volunteers to help us.”

An abandoned storefront at 9131 E. Colfax Ave. in Aurora will be transformed into a REACH clinic.

Beyond crisis response, Williams hopes the new center will create opportunities for young people to build healthy relationships through peer mentorship programs that encourage healthy habits like getting exercise and exploring the outdoors.

Front Porch photos by Linda Kotsaftis