Campaign To Curb Worcester Youth Gun Violence Begins Saturday

WORCESTER, MA — A public service campaign to curb youth gun violence in Worcester will kick off this weekend with a festival at the Worcester Youth Center near Beaver Brook Park.

Starting at 11 a.m., the festival will feature food trucks, free coronavirus vaccines, activities and music from local artists like Jay Naz, the group Stanton Capitol Records, Orphanage Movement, Shardai Sam-Clarke and Ashley Wonder.

Unity Radio will broadcast live with youth hosts from the Worcester Youth Center's radio training program. There will also be a moment of silence for young people who have died due to violence.

The festival will mark the beginning of the "Violence Is Not Normal" campaign, which aims to steer local youth away from gun violence through education, mentorship and job opportunities.

This spring, two 16-year-olds have been shot in Worcester. Last autumn, Nawar Jabbar, 17, was shot and killed at a Park Avenue fast food restaurant.

Saturday's event will take place outside the youth center, 326 Chandler St., until 2 p.m. Find out more about the Violence Is Not Normal campaign at the youth center website.