Real Safety D.C.: Rev. Delonte Gholston on Building Hope Through Faith and Action

December 9, 2025

The Washington Informer hosted a roundtable discussion at the True Reformer Building focused on non-carceral approaches to violence prevention in Washington D.C. Rev. Delonte Gholston, a senior pastor who returned to D.C. after friends and family became gun violence victims, shared his work organizing churches and communities through PeaceWalksDC over the past seven years. His initiatives include Fund Peace Now, which provides entrepreneurship training and employment for young people, and Gen Peace, which seeks to expand the city's summer youth employment program with after-school job opportunities.

Who is affected

Rev. Delonte Gholston (personally lost friends to violence and his nephew was shot)
Young people in D.C. (Gen Z and Gen Y youth targeted for employment programs)
Neighborhoods most impacted by community and police violence
Churches, community groups, survivors, and advocates involved in PeaceWalksDC
Residents struggling with unemployment and mental health issues in affected communities

What action is being taken

PeaceWalksDC conducts peace walks to listen and respond to community needs
Fund Peace Now trains, employs, and supports young people through entrepreneurship and workforce development
The roundtable discussion is bringing together faith, business, government, and community leaders to explore non-carceral solutions

Why it matters

This work matters because it addresses the root causes of violence through community-based solutions rather than relying solely on incarceration. The approach provides practical support—jobs, mental health resources, and spiritual guidance—to communities experiencing both police and community violence. By creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people, these initiatives offer alternatives that allow youth to become "part of the solution" rather than being viewed as problems, potentially breaking cycles of violence and building lasting community safety.

What's next

Gen Peace aims to expand D.C.'s summer youth employment program for the first time in 50 years by offering after-school jobs for Gen Z and Gen Y youth.

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer