ST. LOUIS — When crime strikes, you hear about it.
Community advocates are calling on you to join them in creating a safer St. Louis. The free, two-day anti-crime conference kicks off on Oct. 14 to brainstorm solutions.
"I been here my whole life,” James Dickerson said.
He chooses to live downtown, despite what he calls his reality.
"You hear gunshots at night, pretty much every night…people fighting and shooting…windows being popped out and all kind of other things...looking over your shoulder because you want to go out and get something to eat,” he said.
The St. Louis-native loves his city and doesn't plan to leave. But he wants to see criminals stopped in their tracks.
"Who knows what to do?" he asked.
It's why he's coming to the 2022 Elevate Conference, which is a free crime prevention event open to anyone who wants to see change.
"What do you mean when you say elevate? Elevate means we can come together as a community. In light of everything that were facing everyday with gun violence particularly around our youth,” Event Organizer Marnee Morgan said.
It's the fourth year she has organized the event and she said each year is a new opportunity to make things better.
"Coming together is the first step...that's going to lead to conversation...that will lead to solutions," Morgan said.
It kicks off Friday at Harris-Stowe State University and features Mayor Tishaura Jones and public safety officials from 9a.m. until 3p.m.
There will be a "Family Fun Day" on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10a.m. until 2p.m.
"If you can imagine it, we will have it for you that day…bounce houses, pony rides," Morgan said with excitement. "The family department is going to let up the really large latter."
It’s all to create community and conversation.
After having a gun pointed at him in broad daylight this year, Dickerson welcomes changing the narrative.
“I've done a lot of eulogies for people who have been victims of violence in this city,” he said.
To register for the conference, click here.