>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION FOR SOMEONE WHO DID NOT HAVE AN AMBITION TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

>> ANYTHING IS A POSSIBILITY.

I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD MYSELF BACK FROM ANYTHING.

I LIKE THEM ALL.

>> GOVERNOR RIVERA, TREASURER RIVERA, SECRETARY RIVERA?

>> THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS PEOPLE GETTING SHOT.

>> PATROL OFFICER FRANK SAYS PROVIDENCE POLICE RECOVERED A RECORD 200 GUNS LAST YEAR.

>> >> IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO MAKE A STOP AND RECOVER A GUN.

IT IS A PROBLEM.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> AND I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

WE BEGIN IN CENTRAL, RHODE ISLAND'S SMALLEST CITY PERHAPS KNOWN FOR ITS BIG PROBLEMS.

POVERTY, EDUCATION, HOUSING, CRIME AND COVID-19.

THE CITY'S MAYOR KNOWS MANY OF THOSE CHALLENGES FIRSTHAND.

SHE GREW UP IN THE CITY AND HAS STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET LIKE MANY RESIDENTS, SHE DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.

DESPITE THOSE OBSTACLES, RIVERA IS A SUCCESS STORY AND AS MICHELLE FIRST REPORTED IN FEBRUARY, THE MAYOR HAS HIGH HOPES THAT HER CITY WILL BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS SHE HAS BEEN.

>> THE BIGGEST FEAR IN CENTRAL FALLS HAS TO BE TRUST.

TRUST FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED, THERE ARE LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

PEOPLE DO NOT TRUST THE SYSTEM.

>> MAYOR MARIA RIVERA SPENT HER FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE TRYING TO WIN THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE.

SHE DOES IT BY SHOWING UP.

>> THANK YOU, YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN JANUARY, THE MAYOR WAS HANDING OUT AT HOME COVID-19 TEST KITS.

THERE IS AN URGENCY TO GET TESTED.

THE CITY OF 22,000 PEOPLE HAS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF COVID-19 CASES IN RHODE ISLAND.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> I HAVE TO.

THANK YOU.

>> MANY PEOPLE SAY TO ME, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN OUT THERE SPEAKING TO RESIDENTS FACE-TO-FACE.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE, THIS IS NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE, SITTING AT CITY HALL.

I NEED TO BE OUT THERE HELPING THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

>> YOU SAID YOU WERE ANXIOUS ABOUT SITTING BEHIND A DESK ALL DAY.

>> I GET ANXIOUS BECAUSE I WENT INTO THIS POSITION BECAUSE I WAS SITTING IN A DESK AND PEOPLE WERE COMING TO ME.

I WAS OUT THERE.

THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY KNOW ME ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

THIS IS WHY I AM IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE THEY TRUST ME AND PUT ME HERE.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN DULY ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OF CENTRAL FALLS.

>> IN JANUARY 2021 RIVERA WAS SWORN IN AS THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF CENTRAL FALLS.

TWO YEARS AFTER BECOMING THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR RIVERA, BEING HANDS ON AT TIMES CALLS FOR DIRECTING TRAFFIC AT A COVID TESTING SITE.

ON OTHER OCCASIONS, SHE IS WEARING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS SHE TALKS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING TO GET TESTED.

ONE OF HER BIGGEST CHALLENGES SO FAR, REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN A DENSELY POPULATED CITY OF TRIPLE-DECKER'S.

>> IT IS NO SECRET THAT CENTRAL FALLS WAS THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE THREE FAMILIES IN AN APARTMENT AND YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY CANNOT DO.

WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION.

THEY COULD NOT ISOLATE.

HOW COULD I ASK SOMEBODY TO ISOLATE IN A HOUSEHOLD WHEN THEY HAVE 10 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE APARTMENT?

THIS WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN OPEN FOR A LONG TIME.

>> RIVERA ENVISIONS THIS FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING BEING CONVERTED INTO APARTMENTS, ALONG WITH 11 OTHER UNUSED PROPERTIES.

THAT IS A LOT OF IDLE SPACE IN A CITY THAT IS JUST OVER ONE SQUARE MILE.

>> IF I CAN GET THESE 12 PROPERTIES AND CONVERT THEM INTO HOUSING, WE CAN HAVE ABOUT 200 MORE APARTMENTS IN THE CITY, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE I NEED TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES.

IF I DO NOT ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES IT WILL COST 4.4 BILLION -- MILLION.

I CANNOT TAKE OUT $4 MILLION TO ACQUIRE PROPERTIES WHICH IS WHY I AM HAVING CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND TRYING TO GET SITE ACQUISITION.

IF THEY CAN HELP WITH SITE ACQUISITION, I CAN GUARANTEE WE WILL HAVE MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

>> THE CURRENT HOUSING STOCK NEEDS ATTENTION.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY, MORE THAN 95% OF THE HOUSING UNITS WERE BUILT BEFORE IT LEAD PAINT WAS BANNED IN THE STATE.

RIVERA SAYS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED LEAD POISONING HAS INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC, SINCE CHILDREN SPEND MORE TIME AT HOME.

>> A LOT OF THESE HOUSES WERE BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900S.

THEY ARE UNAWARE THAT THEY HAVE LEAD IN THEIR HOME, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND TAKING IT UPON OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTACT THE LANDLORDS.

WE BRING THEM TO HOUSING COURT, NOT TO PENALIZE THEM, BUT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE ISSUES.

AND CONNECT THEM TO A RESOURCE TO BRING THEIR PROPERTY UP TO CODE.

>> RIVERA HAS HIGH HOPES FOR THE CITY SHE FIRST CALLED HOME WHEN SHE WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

HER PARENTS WORKED AT A PAINTING FACTORY IN CENTRAL FALLS WHILE SHE WAS GROWING UP.

SHE SAYS SHE NEVER IMAGINED SHE WOULD ONE DAY HOLD THE TOP JOB IN THE CITY.

>> I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHERE YOU DEDICATE YOURSELF TO YOUR HUSBAND.

YOU FIND A JOB AND STAY IN THAT JOB, WHICH IS WHAT I DID.

I GOT MARRIED TO MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, I HAD TWO KIDS, WORKED FULL-TIME, WENT TO COLLEGE, CAME BACK HOME, TAKE CARE THE FAMILY, GO BACK TO WORK.

DID NOT HAVE ANYONE AROUND ME TO TALK TO ABOUT POLITICS OR WHAT WORKING IN GOVERNMENT WAS LIKE.

>> THAT CHANGED WHEN SHE GOT DIVORCED AND BECAME A SINGLE MOM OF TWO KIDS.

SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN HER COMMUNITY.

>> I AM IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH TWO INCOMES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I AM IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH ONE INCOME, SO I WANTED TO DO MORE.

THE FIRST THING THAT I DID WAS JOIN THE BOARD AT THE SCHOOL THAT MY KIDS ATTENDED.

AND AFTER THAT, I KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF I WANT TO DO MORE.

I WANT TO CONTINUE BEING ENGAGED, I WANT TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE.

>> IN 2014 RIVERA ATTENDED THE RHODE ISLAND LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.

AND SOON AFTER, PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGING HER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WAS YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

>> WHEN I JOINED THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, THEY ASKED ME WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO OVERCOME?

WRITE IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER, DO NOT TELL ANYBODY AND BY THE END OF THE 10 MONTHS, WE ARE HOPING YOU CAN OVERCOME THAT.

AND MINE WAS PUBLIC SPEAKING.

BY THE END OF THE 10TH MONTH, I HOSTED THEIR ANNIVERSARY EVENT.

I WAS THE PUBLIC SPEAKER.

>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THINK GOD AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS A GOOD THING THAT RIVERA, WHO IS 44, NO LONGER FEARS SPEAKING IN PUBLIC.

SHE DOES IT A LOT.

>> I AM FILLED WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE.

MY HEART ACHES AS WELL.

>> THE JOB CAN BE DAUNTING, SAYS RIVERA.

BUT THE SUPPORT OF HER LOVED ONES KEEPS HER GOING, INCLUDING HER FATHER, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2013.

A PHOTO OF THEM HANGS BEHIND HER DESK AND HIS MEMORY FILLS HER WITH EMOTION.

>> HE HAS NOT BEEN PART OF THIS, BUT I HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS THAT ONE PERSON THAT ALWAYS SAID TO ME YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

DO NOT LET ANYBODY HOLD YOU BACK.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE DOUBTED MYSELF AND I QUESTION CERTAIN THINGS.

I SEE HIM TELLING ME YOU ARE OK. YOU ARE OK, JUST CONTINUE.

>> FEW THINGS THAT MADE HER QUESTION HERSELF MORE THEN WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED WHILE SHE WAS MAYOR ELECT THAT SHE WAS BRINGING IN A NEW POLICE CHIEF FROM THE FORCE IN PROVIDENCE.

ANTHONY ROBERSON.

>> I WAS -- THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF MY BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

A CHALLENGE THAT MAKES ME EMOTIONAL.

>> WHY DOES IT MAKE EMOTIONAL?

>> BECAUSE IT MADE ME DOUBT MYSELF.

I AM COMING INTO THIS POSITION AND MAKING CHANGES THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE.

PEOPLE WERE MAD, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH MY DECISION.

I HAD BEEN FOLLOWING COLONEL ROBERSON'S WORK FOR 23 YEARS.

AND I REALLY, REALLY ADMIRED THE ONE ON ONE CONTACT HE HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE, WHERE HE WORKED.

AND THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO SEE HERE.

I WANTED TO SEE THAT ENGAGEMENT.

I WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FEELS SAFE AND FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

>> THE TRANSITION TO A FEW CHIEF WAS NOT EASY, SAYS RIVERA.

BUT SHE SAYS SHE IS HAPPY WITH HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> YEAH, I HAD TO MEET WITH THE UNION, SPEAK WITH THE UNION AND SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT TRUSTING ME AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.

I SAID TO THEM, GIVE ME SIX MONTHS AND IN SIX MONTHS, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

IF THIS IS NOT WORKING IN SIX MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION AND YOU CAN HELP ME HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE.

IN SIX MONTHS, AFTER THOSE SIX MONTHS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I THINK THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTENT.

>> UNDER CHIEF ROBERSON, CENTRAL FALLS BECAME THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN THE STATE TO TRAIN ALL OF ITS OFFICERS IN NONVIOLENCE.

RIVERA COUNTS THAT AMONG HER SUCCESSES.

ANOTHER IS HELPING PASS A BOND REFERENDUM TO BUILD A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.

DESPITE HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SHE SAYS THE NEEDS IN THE STATES POOREST CITY REMAIN GREAT.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THIS.

>> SHE RECENTLY STOPPED BY SEVERAL BUSINESSES WITH COMMERCE SECRETARY STEFAN PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTE COVID TESTS ALONG WITH INFORMATION ABOUT A SMALL BUSINESS GRANT.

>> SHE HAD A HARD IME WITH HER BUSINESS.

>> I KNOW.

>> THE HARDEST CHALLENGE FOR ME AS MAYOR HAS BEEN OUR BUDGET.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEED IN THE CITY, THINGS I WANT TO GET DONE.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE RESIDENTS ASK ME FOR BEAT THAT I CANNOT ACCOMPLISH.

-- THAT THEY ASKED ME FOR THAT I CANNOT COLLEGE.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

>> I AM TRULY OVERWHELMED WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE STOPPED ME TO ASK ME WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP?

YOU NEED TO START GETTING READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP.

MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS THE CITY AND ACCOMPLISHING WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICE?

>> ANYTHING IS A POSSIBILITY.

I'M NOT CAN HOLD MYSELF BACK FROM ANYTHING.

>> ANY POSITION THAT INTERESTS YOU?

>> I LIKE THEM ALL.

>> GOVERNOR RIVERA, TREASURER RIVERA, SECRETARY RIVERA?

>> I THINK THEY ALL SOUND GOOD.

>> NOW WE TURN TO A STORE THAT OFFERS SOME HOPE THROUGH TRAGEDY.

IF IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE HEARING MORE ABOUT SHOOTINGS THESE DAYS, YOU ARE RIGHT.

IN 2020, MURDERS IN THE UNITED STATES JUMPED MORE THAN 27% THE SHARPEST INCREASE IN SIX DECADES.

LAST YEAR, MURDER RATES WENT UP AGAIN.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED BACK IN MARCH, PROVIDENCE EXPERIENCED ALMOST TWO DOZEN HOMICIDES IN 2021, THE HIGHEST NUMBER AFTER A DECADE OF DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

TONIGHT, A SECOND LOOK AT THE DISTURBING TREND IN THE GUNS AND GANGS THAT SEEM TO DOMINATE THE NEWS.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO TURN IT AROUND.

>> TWO DAYS AFTER THE CITY'S 23RD HOMICIDE OF THE YEAR, PROVIDENCE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SEPARATE SHOOTING.

>> NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE DEADLY WEEKEND SHOOTING AND THE MAN WHO WAS KILLED.

>> A 20-YEAR-OLD MAN SHOT IN PROVIDENCE LAST NIGHT.

>> THESE ARE THE STREETS THAT MADE ME WHO I AM FOR BETTER OR WORSE, YOU GOTTA TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD.

GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE, VERY DIVERSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CHOOSE A PATH THAT LEADS TO DEATH OR PRISON.

>> MANY OF THOSE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF THE PATH OUR YOUNG MEN.

OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STREET ANGST.

THOMAS PAYNE LUMPKIN'S IS A FORMER GANG MEMBER WHO HAS TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND AND IS HELPING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

HE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY AND PERSONAL TRAGEDIES.

>> I JUST RECENTLY LOST MY LITTLE BROTHER.

HE WAS MURDERED RECENTLY.

>> YOUR BROTHER?

YOU LOST YOUR BROTHER, HE WAS MURDERED?

HERE IN PROVIDENCE?

>> YES.

>> THE VICTIM'S NAME IS TORRANCE LUMPKIN'S AND HIS BROTHER TOLD ME HE WAS A GOOD MAN.

>> STINGS LIKE THAT THAT YOU JUST DON'T COME BACK FROM.

YOU HAVE TO CREATE A NEW NORMAL FOR YOURSELF.

FOR I TURNED 18, I HAD ALREADY BEEN TO THREE FUNERALS OF.

>> BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 YOU LOST THREE FRIENDS?

>> YES.

WHILE I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST RECENTLY I JUST SERVED A FIVE YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR.

ACTIONS WAS ARRESTED FOR FIREARMS AND GUN CHARGES.

>> YOU MADE BAD CHOICES.

WHY, THOMAS?

>> MY MOM HAD FIVE KIDS AND THREE OF US ARE BOYS.

THERE IS NO FATHERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, SO, YOU KNOW, SHE DID THE BEST SHE COULD.

SHE DID A GREAT JOB WITH WHAT SHE HAD AT HER DISPOSAL.

THERE WAS A LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES AND A LACK OF RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND IT SHAPES THEIR PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS IS ALL THAT THEY HAVE.

THEIR SELF-WORTH IS AFFECTED BY WHAT THEY SEE AROUND THEM, SO THEY JUST DIVE INTO THIS LIFESTYLE.

THEY DIE OR THEY ARE IN PRISON.

WANT TO GO TO PRISON, IT IS NOT A REHABILITATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS JUST A WAREHOUSE FOR CRIMINALS.

THERE IS ALWAYS CONSTANT THREATS WHEN YOU ARE LIVING THIS LIFESTYLE.

PEOPLE DIE, YOU SEE PEOPLE DIE, THINGS HAPPEN.

YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?

SOMETIMES IT'S EITHER FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

>> SO TODAY IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HE WANTS COMMITTED CRIMES, LUMPKIN'S AND OUT AT RISK YOUTH.

>> TRYING.

THAT IS THE FIRST STEP, IT ALL STARTS WITH TRYING, EFFORT.

CHASING THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

GOING TO PUSH YOU TO DO THINGS THAT YOU REALLY DID NOT THINK THAT YOU COULD DO.

YOU KNOW I'M SAYING?

THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

>> LUMPKIN'S WORKS AT THE NONPROFIT -- NONVIOLENCE INSTITUTE IN PROVIDENCE.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO GANG LIFE.

THE ORGANIZATION SOUGHT HIM OUT BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN THERE.

>> HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE CREW, WHICH IS THE NEW WORD FOR A GANG?

>> JUST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.

I WOULD NOT ALWAYS SAY I WAS IN A GANG, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT WAS HOW THE LAW CLASSIFIES IT.

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE IS VIOLENCE AND JUST ANGER, INNER ANGER FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TURMOIL WITH THIS TREE OR THIS FAMILIES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND YOU JUST BAND TOGETHER TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.

NOWADAYS, IT IS COOL TO BE IN A GANG, BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, IT WAS MORE ABOUT US PROTECTING OURSELVES AND FINDING IDENTITIES.

>> SOME FEEL THE GANGS OR THEIR FAMILIES.

>> MAJOR DAVID IS COMMANDER OF THE INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION OF THE PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> THEY ARE GOOD KIDS, MOST OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT MOST OF THEM THEY ARE GOOD KIDS.

AND A LOT OF THESE KIDS WORK.

THEY'RE NOT HANGING ON THE CORNER, THEY ARE NOT THAT ANGRY BITTER PERSON THAT YOU THINK WOULD MAKE A GANG KID.

>> ARE THERE A LOT OF GANGS IN PROVIDENCE?

>> I WOULD NOT SAY THAT THERE'S A TON OF GANGS.

SEE, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT A GANG DOES NOT GET TOGETHER AND REGISTER THEMSELVES OR ANYTHING, SO YOU AND I HANG OUT ON THE STREET CORNER AND THEN ANOTHER FRIEND COMES.

WE HANG OUT FOR A COUPLE OF PAIRED WHAT WE CALL OURSELVES THIS?

AND IT STARTS LIKE THAT.

>> WHAT IS UP RIGHT NOW IS GUN VIOLENCE.

WHICH IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONCERNING TO ALL OF US.

WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS INVOLVED WITH GUNS OR INVOLVED IN GANGS, IT IS DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

♪ >> ACCORDING TO PROVIDENCE POLICE, THREE PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND ONE PERSON WAS STABBED INSIDE OF THE LOUNGE HERE EARLIER THIS MORNING.

>> I WOULD SAY MANY OF THE HOMICIDES ARE DUE TO NOTHING MORE THAN AN INSULT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR -- YES, IT IS NOT ABOUT GUNS OR NAVY A GIRLFRIEND READ AN OLD GIRLFRIEND IS WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

IT IS NOT LIKE YOU WOULD SEE IN THE OLD DAYS, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT TURF AND MONEY.

IT'S JUST NOT LIKE THAT.

AND YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU SAY THIS IS JUST FOOLISH.

NOT ONLY ARE YOU TAKING A LIFE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO GET YOU.

IF YOU SHOOT HIM AND YOU KILL HIM, YOU'RE GOING IN FOR LIFE.

YOU'RE GOING TO, IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.

>> AND ALL THEY WERE 75 SHOOTINGS IN PROVIDENCE LAST YEAR.

23 WERE MURDERERS, THE HIGHEST JUMP IN A DECADE.

>> IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THE VIOLENCE AND THE HOMICIDES.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> WELL, IF I WAS TO POINT AT ONE REASON WHY THE MURDER RATE IS GOING UP, I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE GUNS ON THE STREET.

THERE'S A LOT OF GUNS ON THE STREET.

IF YOU'RE A MEMBER DURING THE COVID DAYS, A YEAR AGO, THERE WERE LINES OUTSIDE OF GUN STORES.

WHAT HAPPENED IS SOME PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE AND BECAME STRAW BUYERS.

>> WHAT IS A STRAW BUYER?

>> SOMEBODY WHO CAN GO IN AND LEGALLY BUY A GUN.

YOU BUY A GUN, TAKE IT HOME AND THEN SELL IT TO SOMEBODY WHO CANNOT LEGALLY BUY IT >> BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD?

>> RIGHT.

THERE'S BEEN MORE FIREARMS ARE RECENTLY AS YOU CAN SEE.

>> PATROL OFFICER FRANK MOODY SAYS PROVIDENCE POLICE RECOVERED A RECORD 200 >> GUNS LAST YEAR.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO MAKE A STOP AND RECOVER A GUN.

OR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO.

>> HE SAYS NOT ONLY IS THERE AN ARSENAL OUT THERE, THE WEAPONS TURN UP EVERYWHERE.

>> ONE INSTANCE I CAME TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING.

I GET OFF AT 95 NORTH, THERE WAS A GUN IN THE INTERSECTION WITH A MAGAZINE.

SO, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, SOMEBODY HAD DUMPED THAT GUN AT THE INTERSECTION.

THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS UPTAKE IN VIOLENCE, OBVIOUSLY.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

>> MY DAUGHTER HAS THESE BEAUTIFUL HAZEL EYES.

>> ARTIST JEN BARROS UNDERSTANDS HOW BULLETS CAN RIP A FAMILY APART.

DURING A ROBBERY IN 2012, 3 NEIGHBORHOOD MEN FATALLY SHOT HER DAUGHTER IN A PROVIDENCE HOME.

>> SO WHEN I GOT THE NEWS, WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS GREETED RIGHT AWAY WITH THE DETECTIVES.

I BEGGED ONE OF THEM, I SAID WELL, IF YOU GO IN THERE AND YOU JUST -- IF YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT HER EYES, SHE HAS PRETTY HAZEL EYES.

I WILL KNOW IT IS HER.

OR IF YOU COULD JUST SHAKE HER.

AND TELL HER HER MOM IS OUTSIDE.

>> HE SAYS MA'AM, I AM SORRY.

AND I JUST KNEW THAT SHE WAS GONE.

I KNEW SHE WAS GONE.

>> THIS IS A PIECE THAT I CREATED.

>> GRADUALLY, SHE FOUND HEALING THROUGH ART.

ONE OF HER RECENT PAINTINGS REFLECTING THE CITY'S BLOODSHED IS TITLED RED RAIN.

IT HANGS AT THE NONVIOLENCE INSTITUTE, WHERE BARROS IS NOW A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP TRAINER.

>> I WANTED IT TO SAY THAT WE ALL BLEED THE SAME, THAT WE ARE ALL BEING AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

♪ >> ANOTHER LOCAL ARTIST PROVIDENCE WRAPPER HAMMER BEAMS BECAME THE CITY'S 23RD MURDER VICTIM LAST YEAR.

ISRAEL NAME, JAMES OWENS, THOMAS LUMPKIN'S COUSIN.

THE TRAUMA OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED YOU?

>> I LIKE TO THINK IT IS MAKING ME A BETTER PERSON, I LIKE TO USE EVERYTHING THAT I GO THROUGH TO BUILD MYSELF UP AND BUILD UP THOSE AROUND ME.

THERE'S DEFINITELY TIMES WHERE IT SHAKES ME.

I TRY TO BE AUTHENTIC WITH WHO I AM AND I CAN'T LET THEM KNOW THAT I CAME FROM WHERE I CAME FROM.

I'M THAT KID FROM THE STREETS TOO, BUT I AM ELEVATING MYSELF.

I TRY TO EXPRESS TO THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

>> HE'S DOING THAT BY COACHING TEENAGERS LIKE JUAN.

>> I SEE POTENTIAL IN YOU, EVEN WHEN HE'S A KNUCKLEHEAD.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON A PATH SINCE THEY WERE YOUNG, DUMB MINDED.

THEY TRY TO MAKE YOU DO BETTER AND BECOME A MAN.

>> LUMPKIN'S IS TRYING TO END THE CYCLE OF GANG VIOLENCE BY GAINING THE TRUST OF KIDS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE FACE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES ON EITHER END OF A GUN.

>> FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

I FEEL LIKE I LIKE TO TELL MYSELF THAT I'M DESTINED FOR GREAT THINGS AND I LIKE TO MAKE THE MOVES TO BRING MYSELF CLOSER TO THAT GOAL.

BUT I DO FEEL LIKE I HAVE A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION AND EXACTING THE KIND OF CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LOVE.

>> PROVIDENCE MAYOR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT MORE THAN ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL RESCUE PLAN WILL HELP TO ESTABLISH CITYWIDE NONVIOLENCE TRAINING AND YOUTH MENTOR SHIP PROGRAMS.

SOME MONEY WILL GO TO THE NONVIOLENCE INSTITUTE.

OTHER HOPEFUL NEWS TO REPORT, FROM JANUARY TO JUNE OF 2022, HOMICIDES IN PROVIDENCE SAW A 60% DECLINE.

>> FINALLY TONIGHT, CONTRIBUTING REPORTER BILL BARTHOLOMEW INTRODUCED US TO ONE MAN AND A GROUP OF AREA TEENS WHO WERE FIGHTING GUN VIOLENCE WITH AN UNLIKELY WEAPON.

>> I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE THAT DIED FROM CANCER, PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED FROM AUTO ACCIDENTS.

TAKING THEIR LIVES IN OTHER WAYS.

COMPLICATIONS FROM DIABETES.

BUT I KNOW FIVE PEOPLE -- I DON'T KNOW FIVE PEOPLE THAT DIED FOR MANY OF THOSE THINGS.

>> BUT PROVIDENCE ARTIST AND EDUCATOR SCOTT DOES KNOW FIVE PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM ONE SIGLER CAUSE, GUN VIOLENCE.

ONE OF HIS FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH GUN TRAGEDY WAS LOSING ONE pOF HIS STUDENTS.

TRUCK TO GET A SANDWICH AND HE GOT SHOT.

AND IT WAS REALLY INTENSE, REALLY DEVASTATING.

>> SOON AFTER HE LOST THREE MORE STUDENTS AND REALIZE THAT THIS WAS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.

>> IT WAS ERIC, DOUG, AND THEN VINNIE.

AND OVER THE YEARS, I REALLY STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IT MORALLY, WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

HOW CRAZY IT WAS.

>> CRAZY AND CLOSE TO HOME.

LATHAM SAYS THE LOSSES BROUGHT BACK A MEMORY HE HAD LONG TRIED TO SUPPRESS, HIS BROTHER TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

>> THAT WAS A FAMILY TRAGEDY AND I DID NOT REALLY THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE, SO I REALLY STARTED TO LOOK AT NONVIOLENCE AS SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND IT WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ACROSS THE WORLD.

PEOPLE HAVE CONFLICT ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT NOT EVERY CULTURE HAS SO MANY GUNS TO MAKE OUR HUMAN BEHAVIORS DEADLY AND FATAL.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE.

>> HE DECIDED TO BLEND HIS EXPERIENCES WITH GUN VIOLENCE ADVOCACY, ART AND EDUCATION INTO ONE PROJECT WITH A MISSION TO GET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

WATCHING ONE GUN GONE IN 2015, HE AND HIS STUDENTS TAKE MOLDS OF GUNS, DEVELOP A STATEMENT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY, AND CONVERT THE WEAPONS INTO ART AND HOPEFULLY, START A DIALOGUE.

>> I MIGHT JUST BE THE NEXT MAYOR.

>> STUDENTS LIKE JEREMY PEREZ HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF TRAGEDY AROUND THEM AND SAY THEY HAVE FOUND A SAFE HAVEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

>> GUN VIOLENCE HAS AFFECTED MY COMMUNITY A LOT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT AND KILLED.

JUST STUFF YOU SEE AT AN EARLY AGE, IT AFFECTS HOW YOU AS A KID GROWING UP ARE ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND HAVE FUN.

AGAIN, IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HEAR GUNSHOTS AND YOU HAVE TO RUN BACK HOME.

>> ONE GUN GONE HAS GIVEN STUDENTS LIKE PEREZ A PLACE TO CHANNEL THEIR ENERGY.

WHEN PIECES ARE SOLD, THE WORK HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL STUNNING PIECES OF ART.

DISPLAYED IN VARIOUS SPACES, INCLUDING MS. D. THE IDEAS AND MATERIALS USED ARE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS.

>> WE WANTED TO DO IT IN CLASS.

WE DID NOT REALIZE HOW AMBITIOUS I WAS GOING TO BE, BUT THE REASON WE WANTED TO USE GLASS WAS BECAUSE IT IS TRANSPARENT.

THAT MADE US THINK OF THE FLEETING NATURE OF LIFE.

IF THIS DROPS, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR IT TO SHATTER.

AND THAT IS TALKING ABOUT A GUN ANYWAY THAT WE DO NOT NORMALLY THINK OF IT, WHICH IS GUNS ARE POWERFUL.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT POWER.

>> WHERE TO GO FROM THERE?

>> WITHOUT THE PROJECT WOULD END, BUT THEN WE STARTED THINKING WHY SHOULD IT END?

WE HAVE A MOLD.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE PUT IN IT?

>> ONE OF THE PROGRAM'S MOST POWERFUL DESIGNS IS THE PENCIL GUN.

>> WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD.

THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT THE MESSAGE WAS, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WHO LOOKS AT IT, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LIKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

ONE YEAR A MAN CAME IN AND WE ARE EXPECTING THIS, LOOKED AT IT AND HE SAID THIS DOES NOT HAVE AN ERASER.

THAT MEANS YOU CANNOT TAKE IT BACK.

>> ONE STUDENT AND ARTIST SAYS THAT THE NONVIOLENCE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT PROGRAMS LIKE ONE GUN GONE ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> IT HAS DEFINITELY GOTTEN WORSE.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT KIND OF INFLUENCES THAT.

YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS WHETHER IT IS THE MUSIC PEOPLE LISTEN TO, THE PEOPLE THEY SURROUND THEM SELVES WITH.

BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT IT IS GROWING DAY BY DAY.

>> AND OUR THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE AND SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

GOOD NIGHT.

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