The GTA Faith Alliance was established as a result of the escalating violence in the city. Rev. Don Meredith organized 25 Faith and community leaders in the GTA to meet with Toronto Police Chief and his staff. The discussion focussed on the escalation of youth violence in the city and how faith leaders can assist with its eradication. The aim is to build stronger relationships with the police and the Community, while finding programs that can help our young people.
Alliance members participated in a number of roundtable discussions and attended a variety of youth crime-prevention seminars and conferences to showcase our programs and contribution to the community.
The Alliance and the Toronto Police Services held a joint press conference at Police Headquarters denouncing youth violence, while calling for gangs to put down their weapons. The overwhelming media coverage demonstrated to the community that faith leaders are not willing to stand on the sidelines and watch their children die. We are prepared to combat youth violence in our neighbourhoods anywhere in the GTA.
Participating in and creating various initiatives to promote its mandate, the GTA Faith Alliance engaged in many endeavours to make a difference in our community. They include:
-
March against violence- drawing a crowd of over 300-400 people, folks marched, sang and prayed in the streets of the Rexdale & Malvern communities.
-
Prayer breakfast to help our youths- with over 200 faith leaders present, members of the Toronto Police force and government leaders.
-
Motivational Presentations – designed to help the community overcome obstacles of youth violence.
-
Press Conferences across the City standing against violence
-
CFRB Town Hall Meetings – Focussing on the causes, identifying the problems and learning how to deal with the serious issue of youth violence and crime.
-
Radio Interviews, 680 News, CFRB 1010, CBC Radio, AM 640
-
Television Interviews and discussions
The role of the GTA Faith Alliance has remained the same and will continue with your support.
Members of The Alliance continue to bring faith leaders together to discuss the challenges facing our communities as it relates to policing, violence and the break-down of the family unit.
While facilitating the discussions, we have developed an action plan designed to address these issues.
GTA Faith Alliance Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rev. Don Meredith, has graciously accepted the lead role in bringing the concerns of our community to the Toronto Police through acting as the communication link between the respective church groups and the community at large.