Last spring, students, and staff at Taft Elementary School led a peace march around the school, pleading for an end to the violence that's ravaged Youngstown neighborhoods.

Now Principal Tod Morris is looking for more ways to reduce the trauma to students who walk through the elementary school doors.

"We are worried about how the children feel when they hear gunfire at night, whether they have to lay on the floor because there are bullets flying in the street, where they see crime on the street, whether they see bodies on the street, a couple of years ago we had children walk around a corps that was laying over on South Avenue of someone who had been shot," said Principal Morris.

Morris added, "We have had a shooting here in the parking lot at school, there have been several shootings, drive-by's on Florida just a few blocks away. We are afraid to send the kids out for recess. We worry about them coming to school, leaving school. We have a lot of general concern about safety."

Students at Taft Elementary School were asked to share with their teachers how violence affects them, and they wrote down some shocking answers.

Students wrote they are scared to go to school because of the violence near the school, they can't have school recess, and the gunfire keeps them up at night. There were dozens of comments students made expressing trauma.

Neighbors who attended the open house shared suggestions.

"We have to be more proactive. I think they need to saturate different parts of the city and I think that will solve some of the problems that were happening here in Youngstown," said Larry Allen.

Mayor Jamael Tito-Brown and Police Chief Carl Davis told the group with saturation patrols and police strategies implemented this year, crime is going down.

They want people who see something to say something anonymously by using a card by A.C.T.I.O.N. to report information so police can
solve crimes and help reduce violence.

Mayor Tito-Brown told the people attending to call him with anonymous information.

Malik Mostella says the city and police are inviting parents or guardians to reach out of they need help finding a job, or to meet other needs that will help their children build better futures.

Mostella said, "We can help them get food, clothing, and it can become secondary services such as counseling and mentorship. There are many ways we can help provide wrap-around services. We can help support the family. We are here to help."

You can reach the Community Liaison for YPD  Malik Mostella at 330-742-8244 or by email at  ptlmostella@youngstownohio.gov