Philadelphia unites violence interrupters through new peacekeepers institute
April 23, 2026
When 20-year-old Imani Ringgold was gunned down while walking along the 5900 block of Market Street, pizza in hand and talking on the phone with her grandmother, community violence intervention workers were there. When 13-year-old Amir Akers and a friend were caught in crossfire on a basketball court in West Oak Lane, they were there, too, offering support, resources and a listening ear in moments of crisis. Those same frontline organizations are now being brought together through a new city-backed initiative aimed at strengthening Philadelphia’s response to gun violence.