(Danville, Va.) — The community came together Monday to declare June as “Violence Awareness and Prevention Month,” with the goal of no shootings in Danville during the month of June.

Jean Jackson, founder of Mothers Stronger Together, spoke of personal losses she has suffered through gun violence, noting that her son, grandson, sister and nephew were all murdered. She called upon the community to rally, saying “we must come together to bring the children together to discuss their issues.”

Danville City Councilman Larry Campbell also addressed those assembled in Doyle J. Thomas Park. He called for preventive measures “to make a person think once, think twice before they pick up a gun.”

City Manager Ken Larking applauded the effort and urged those in attendance to report what they see and to work collectively to prevent gun violence in their neighborhoods

The grassroots effort is designed to raise public awareness about violence and appeal to residents to speak up when they see gang activity.