Wilmington, Del. (March 20, 2018) – Council President Dr. Hanifa Shabazz and Council Member Nnamdi Chukwuocha, chair of Council’s Education, Youth and Families Committee, today invited and encouraged members of the public to attend a community mixer being hosted by the Wilmington Community Advisory Council.

The gathering will take place on Friday, March 23, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Christina Cultural Arts Center at 705 North Market Street, and will include light refreshments and networking. The mixer will also feature the release of the WCAC’s 2017 Annual Report, as well as the P.O.W.E.R. community engagement campaign.

The Wilmington Community Advisory Council, formerly known as the CDC Community Advisory Council, is a body comprised of community leaders, practitioners and elected officials and staff at all levels of government in Delaware. Members have been working diligently to implement recommendations based upon the findings offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which conducted an intensive study on the public health issue of youth firearm violence in Wilmington at the request of Council President (then-Council Member) Dr. Hanifa Shabazz.

“The efforts of the Wilmington Community Advisory Council have provided us with a roadmap for how we can address youth firearm violence in Wilmington through a public health lens, and our coalition of leaders and practitioners has been making real progress in moving towards enacting systematic change in how we support our youth,” said President Shabazz. “This community mixer represents an important step in our efforts, and the annual report that will be released demonstrates the commitment we share to empowering our youth and to finding ways to leverage research and best practices to best tackle the epidemic of gun violence in our community.”

Ray Fitzgerald, director of the Division of Social Services with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, and one of the WCAC’s co-chairs, shared President Shabazz’s sentiments.

“It is important that we continue to demonstrate that the mission of the Wilmington Community Advisory Council is to be a good partner with the community, local and state governments, and serve as a partnership incubator,” Fitzgerald said. “That means we are focused on creating opportunities for public, private, and community stakeholders to collaborate and develop

supports that make a difference and are responsive to the needs of the community. Our annual report gives us an opportunity to highlight our partnerships and achievements.”

Fellow co-chair Tyrone Jones, Chief Impact Officer at the United Way of Delaware, added his thoughts as well.

“Our collective vision and efforts have brought many partners to the table, demonstrating the power of collaboration that will stem the prevalence of violence in our community,” Jones stated. “As we continue to move forward, it is important that the community be engaged and play a critical role in guiding and influencing the work. Violence in our communities will not be reduced unless we change the culture in our community.”

To RSVP for the free event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wilmington-community- advisory-council-community-mixer-tickets-43896151571. For more information on the Wilmington Community Advisory Council, visit www.wilmcommunityadvisorycouncil.org.

For more information, and to sign up to receive information like this from City Council, visit www.WilmingtonCityCouncil.com.