NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- "I lay awake at night trying to figure out what's the next step. What do we do and how do we come together?"
Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy held nothing back at the second of two emergency meetings called by the city on how to combat crime.
"At this point in time, we are in a state of emergency with our young people," declared council member Torrance Harvey, speaking in front of a crowd at the Boys and Girls Club. "When we get to a point where these guns are being fired off every other day or every day, we're not reaching them."
The goal of the meetings is to harness ideas for how to reach Newburgh's youth before before another senseless act of gun violence, and, most importantly, how to put those ideas into motion.
"How do we make sure every child reads by third grade, career training, apprenticeship training, youth activities after school, block watches?" asked the mayor.
"Match up these young children with sponsors that can identify with them and teach them," suggested one community member.
City officials and police say they're doing what they can to put an end to the gun violence that has become the norm on the street. But they need the community's involvement.
That's where groups like Team Newburgh, which focuses on drug prevention, come into play.
"You have the kids using drugs, and drug dealers make money from the kids using drugs," explained Regina Cieslak of Team Newburgh.
"We're starting a kickball league; ages are 5 though 80," said We are Newburgh founder Joe Alvates. "You want to show them that you want to get involved in this community? All right, take part in this community."
Activist Omari Shakur has been personally affected by the violence.
"In broad daylight, my grandson got shot twice in the back in front of his house," Shakur said.
Shakur now says it's time for less talking, and more doing. Or else.
"We're going to be here at another meeting," Shakur continued. "I'm going to be at the hospital again for someone else's family. I'm going to be at another funeral."
Even with those meetings, the city has a long way to go in its struggle for peace. The mayor says she will hold as many meetings and community forums as it takes, but for now, the focus remains on educating young people, showing them that there is an alternative to a life of crime.
It's a goal that may not just be attainable, but necessary if there is any hope for a safer, more prosperous Newburgh.