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Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. participated in a Community Violence Intervention Summit, “Partnering for a Safer Community,” over the weekend at the Embassy Suites Montgomery Hotel & Conference Center.

Over 300 people came for the two-day summit on April 12. The goal was to find community-driven solutions to reduce violent crime across the Black Belt Region that includes Dallas County and the state’s capital.

“We’re hoping that the faith community will be strong in their appearance here and their engagement in this conversation,” Perkins said. “But at the end of the day, faith without works is dead. So we’re going to have to have some legislative work done to make this work.”

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said violence affects the nation, not just Central Alabama.

“So, we’re trying to bring the best and the brightest around and help us present solutions that we can implement on local and state levels,” Reed said. “So those who want to take this beyond here, I think this is a tremendous opportunity for us.”