ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Pastor Cynthia Anderson usually spends her time her preaching to a congregation. 

This Tuesday night, however, she’s sharing her message with other faith leaders in Rochester. 

It's part of the Faith Leadership Roundtable. The group meets throughout the year, discussing how violence in the city impacts their communities and sometimes their personal lives. 

"It’s affecting every one of us,” said Anderson. “It doesn’t just affect me as a pastor, it affects my members [and] affects my community. It affects how we’re able to do ministry.” 

Rev. Benjamin Cox is also a member of the roundtable. He says in a year, faith leaders spend about 20% of their time at funerals for victims of gun violence. 

It’s taking a toll on their mental health. 

"We stand on the word of God, but at the same time it’s heartbreaking to see mothers, fathers [and] family members walking by the casket,” said Cox. 

Cox, Anderson and the other roundtable members use these meetings to find solutions to get young people away from gun violence.  

"Change happens by us sitting down, pushing in and saying, ‘we’re not going to stop until we see it,’” said Anderson. 

In 2023 there were more than 50 homicides and about 270 people shot in the city of Rochester. While those numbers are down from previous years, Anderson says more needs to be done.

“I don’t want to see my son killed on the news," said Anderson. "Because we simply couldn’t take it seriously when we had a seat at the table, the seat that made our community better.”

Anderson understands how important the conversations happening at this table are and hopes the message being shared reaches those who need it.