"Gun violence affected my immediate family several years ago, when my 23 year old uncle was murdered just three blocks away from home. He was attacked and killed by five teens ranging from 13-17. One of them shot him in the face, while he was on the ground with a sawed-off shot gun, after beating him to the point of partial disfiguration with the barrel of the gun. Although this happened before I was born it hs had a lasting impact on me and my family. Although I have done well, there is still a void. I wish my uncle had not been murdered like that. My family still has to write letters to the parole board about how this has affected us, which opens the would all over again. My mother tries to be the strong one in the family, but I know it affects her too. Once that trigger is pulled, it affects so many people not just the victim."

"Ms. Monica Atkins Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stop the Violence 757 Inc. sponsored 20 Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority families during our Resident Services First Annual Holiday Giveaway in 2019. Ms. Atkins personally shopped for each child with a passion to fulfill each wish list request. In addition to providing gifts for the families the organization supplied food for our holiday event. Each family that attended received hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies. Ms. Atkins and Stop the Violence board members Ms. Lakeesha Atkinson and Rick Hoggard were also in attendance. The Resident Services Department of Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority would like to send a huge thanks of gratitude to Stop the Violence757 Inc. for their support during the 2019 holiday season."

"My journey is nothing unusual but unusual to me, I loss Herbert S. Porter Ill, my brother 10 years (Jacksonville FL) prior to the Stop the Violence Movement started in Portsmouth. I felt that I needed to be a part of the Awareness and Education of the Movement. I participated in the movement on the account that my brother was murder. Unbeknownst to me, The Stop the Violence Movement turn into my therapy for the loss of my love one (not related to violence). I helped the cause when needed and supported the Cause whenever possible, unknowingly I would need the support directly On the night of December 25, 2020, my oldest child Dre'sean L. Porter was Murder in Norfolk VA. I had to reach out to Monica Atkins and the Stop the Violence 757 Movement to get support to understand the tragic situation. The organization provided the information, resources and support I needed at that difficult time. Ms. Atkins was a speaker at the Homecoming Service for my son, she provided; awareness, comfort and compassion to All at the Service. I would personally like to the Thank Stop the Violence 757 on behalf of myself and my whole entire family."