VIOLENCE
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them information they need and keep them from disrupting treatment their loved one is getting ,” said Dr . Eddie Woods , a doctor of criminal justice who has worked in the tactics of de-escalation and understanding youth violence for decades . In 1995 , he created a program with Peace Ed and KJ ’ s father , Kevin , called “ YPHAL ( or Why Fall ?)” which was dedicated to helping at-risk young people . It lasted five years and won a Housing and Urban Development Award for best practiced program in that time .
“ I developed a reputation for the ability to interact with young people who were in dangerous settings . The non-violence practices we were teaching were working ,” Dr . Woods said .
In 2011 , Metro Council members David James and Cheri Bryant Hamilton approached him about creating an anti-violence group called No More Red Dots . With support from the city and Lift a Life Foundation , Dr . Woods partnered again with Peace Ed . He and a small team began to make connections on the streets , identifying 25 well-connected individuals they could rely on for information and relationship building .
“ We have 25 networks coming together for a common cause . If someone gets shot , we know shortly after it happens , we know why it happened and , in some cases , we know who did it . Our primary focus is to get in front of the shootings ,” he explained .
Sometimes that means literally : “ We de-escalate every day . We ’ ve looked down a lot of barrels . We ’ ve stood between guys with pistols and the victim they wanted to finish off . You ’ re talking fast to try to calm them down . It ’ s always a delicate situation .”
The breadth of the work done by Dr . Woods and his team is staggering . He estimates they average approximately 600 interventions and mediations each month across the city of Louisville . With that level of experience in high intensity settings , Dr . Woods and his team were a natural fit to support hospital staff and potential Pivot to Peace clientele at the UofL Hospital Trauma Center .
“ Eddie is a huge resource for our staff ,” said Pike . “ With his team there , they aren ’ t worrying about calming down mom or dad or all the people who show up for a victim . It lets the nurses go back to what they do best , and I know they appreciate the support he provides them . A lot of people know Eddie . If you ’ re in this horrible traumatic situation , it helps to have a familiar face to calm you down .”
Dr . Woods agreed , expressing gratitude for the work done by nurses and hospital staff . “ I have the highest praise for emergency room professionals . I get to see firsthand what they deal with . The most functional ERs I ’ ve been around are the ones with folks who not only do a good job , but are very compassionate people .”
Peace Ed is another member of the Pivot to Peace Collaborative . Dedicated to teaching nonviolent conflict resolution , Peace Ed has worked with community partners to designate more than 150 Louisville community sites and schools as violence-free areas .
Of the participants who have been referred to Peace Ed , 95 percent have successfully abstained from further injury or violence in retaliation .
“ We want to help folks as they make that dramatic change toward safety and respect and a better life ,” said Peace Ed Executive Director Eileen Blanton . “ I ’ m amazed at the work done by the Pivot to Peace case workers and Deborah Barnes-Byers for those people who have had so many doors slammed in their faces . When you have hurdles all your life , some obstacles feel totally insurmountable . If some of these folks didn ’ t have case workers helping them navigate the system , I think they would have given up .”
Peace Ed ’ s three-day conflict resolution class includes mediation and ways to face conflicts in a peaceful manner . It is essential for teaching those who are looking to escape a cycle of violence new means of avoiding escalation .
“ We need to look at violence more clearly as a public health issue that in many ways has reached epidemic proportions . It ’ s bigger than individuals killing each other . There ’ s a whole system which perpetuates violence ,” she said .
A common theme of those looking to end violence through education and love is personal connection . Sometimes , that connection is extremely powerful . Deborah Barnes-Byers has been called " grandmother " and even " mom " by troubled souls going through the program . Sometimes the love and support a person gives to others may lead to their own vicarious trauma . “ There are times I have to shut down ,” she said . “ I ’ ve learned when I leave here , I leave everything here . I don ’ t take it home for me .”
For KJ , these connections mean there are areas of his own place of work which cause him emotional pain to visit . “ There was a situation that hurt . I was asked , ‘ KJ , do you want to be in the room when they withdraw care ?’ I didn ’ t necessarily want to go in , but I went . The man was alert . Everyone got around him and we said the Serenity Prayer . Everybody in the room broke , including myself . He was a fighter . They withdrew care at midnight , he was gone at 5 am . I don ’ t even go to that particular floor of the hospital when I can help it because of what happened there . When I do , I think about him .”
The amazing work being done by Pivot to Peace and its partners . No More Red Dots , Peace Ed , Louisville Metro Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and the UofL Trauma Center have empathy and a commitment to ending violence in common . By sharing the feelings of those less fortunate , of those who have suffered , their burdens are eased . If enough people share these goals , great change can take place .
“ You don ’ t have to experience what another person has experienced in order to relate to them ,” KJ said . “ You just have to show you care .”
Aaron Burch is the communications specialist for the Greater Louisville Medical Society .
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