DES MOINES, Iowa — September 25 is National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, and a local organization wanted to use the day to highlight resources available in the community.

There have been 12 homicides in 2024 and those at Creative Visions want to be a part of the number getting lower and lower every year.

“This opportunity to honor this day and honor those victims gives us the chance to let the community know what resources are available out of Creative Visions, and also to introduce them to our community partners who are very significant and in our role of making a difference and keeping our community safe,” said Ivette Muhammad, Director of Operations at Creative Visions.

The street Creative Visions sits on was closed down for the day to allow for groups to set up tents and tables and share the resources available. Specifically, Creative Visions offers a food pantry, second chance initiatives, employment help, crime victims advocacy and more.

The event ran from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., ending with prayer and music from local artists.

“You know, to make resources available, honor those that we loved and send positive messages throughout the community is extremely important and what we hope to accomplish is to reduce some of the gun violence and also make people understand that these are human beings and peoples’ loved ones,” said Muhammad.

You can learn more about Creative Visions by visiting their website.

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