Today we’d like to introduce you to Shneaqua Purvis

Hi Shneaqua, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

My name is Shneaqua “Coco” Purvis I am from Bedford Stuyvsant, Brooklyn, New York. I lived in Tompkins houses, my grandmother lived in Sumner Houses, and my cousins lived in Marcy houses. Living in this poverty stricken neighborhood I found a way through my jobs to try to help young people get out of the projects and do fun things. I was always concerned about my neighborhood and the people in it. When my sister was killed by a stray bullet, I started diving deep into why there is so much violence in our neighborhoods and not in other places. I got into prevention and worked for two big companies that concentrated on anti gun violence work. Years later I thought it was important to talk to the person who killed my sister and find out from him why and how did this happen. he taught me that perpetrators are victims too and he wanted to be one of those children I took out on trips in our neighborhood we both shared. I thought about taking the children who weren’t considered “bad”. I took the ‘good” kids. After carefully understanding his story, I thought about that and came to the conclusion that if I would have poured the same love in the “bad” kids as I did the “good” kids, would my sister be alive? Today, I mentor him and I work hard to provide resources and pour love into our communities with Both Sides of the Violence Inc. a nonprofit that makes sure no other family goes through what we both endured in our lives.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

The struggles are finding the funding to provide everything these children need so they do not pick up a gun to solve their issues. My family is a struggle because some of them do not acre about the person who killed my sister’s story. They want him to stay in jail. He has changed his life around and its hard for my family to accept. I also struggle to find a safe place for me to provide services. I have to try to get the funds to create safe spaces for our youth.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a Violence Interrupter, outreach Worker, Chaplain, Minister and CEO. I am doing the work of violence prevention through ministry, healing circles, events and marches. I aid families through death, grieving, unemployment, court, arrest and any other resources they may need. I am known for my realistic approaches to preventing violence in my neighborhood. I am outside, in your face, in your neighborhood type of woman. What separates me from others is that I am system impacted and I have held every position in the anti gun violence field. I am on my Community Board, My precinct community board and the Clergy Board. I am working on starting the Bedford Stuyvesant Safety Alliance. I worked with the Brooklyn DA’s office and Columbia University, to stop the incarceration of our youth that are in gangs and we started a program called Project restore Bed Stuy where we worked with two rival gangs simultaneously bit apart. Paid them $25/hour to go through life skills, internships and school. It was very successful and now they are working together facilitating workshops for the youth coming up under them. They themselves are enrolled in Columbia and other prestigious schools. I am very proud to have been apart of that initiative where now they are bringing the program to other areas in Brooklyn.

What does success mean to you?

I know I am successful when the people who doubted me, now ask for help from me. I know I did a great job when the shootings and killings go down. I define success when those who were thought to be in jail, now work and go to school. I define success when we have successful partnerships to help make a difference in a child’s life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bsvinc.org
• Instagram: bothsidesoftheviolenceinc
• Facebook: Both Sides of the Violence Inc.