WARREN — Church and community leaders came together Thursday to discuss ways to address the problems with gun violence, particularly among young people.

Pastor Joseph Walker of Restoration Christian Fellowship called a meeting with members of the Warren Ministerial Alliance, city officials and representatives of local agencies and organizations such as the Trumbull Chapter of NAACP, Brothers Against Violence and the African American Achievers Association.

More than 30 people attended the meeting.

“We need to find ways to make improvements in our community and identify the areas that need our attention,” Walker said.

“There have been concerns over the recent gun violence that has taken place in our community. We had multiple shootings that took place over the weekend which resulted in one death and others shot and injured.”

Walker, who is president of the ministerial alliance, said the city has had to deal with shootings in the past and once again needs to bring community leaders together.

He said people who have been identified as gun carriers and those who had been involved in violence, have been spoken to and some have been able to have their lives turned around.

“We were able to reach out and make an impact on some. We now have to address what is taking place currently and stand up against the violence,” Walker said. “It is not just the shooters, but those in the community who are the ones with bad character.”

He said one way is to work together as a group and reach out to those involved with the violence to speak to them and change them.

Walker said there is often concern for youth and young adults and who they are spending time with. He said he wants to speak more with young people.

Walker said Youngstown and other communities are also facing gun violence.

“It is a small group in our community that makes the majority of our problems,” he said. “There are some who can be reached and helped and others who cannot.”

Darren Caffie, president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, said there is concern for the community and changes need to be made in neighborhoods.

“We are all on the front lines. We need to let people know we are there to help them and meet the problems that are taking control of many neighborhoods,” Caffie said.

Pastor Anthony Davis of Genesis Christian Community Center said many people in the community are angry and frustrated by what has been happening.

He said relationships have to be made to work at reaching individuals who are involved with violence.

“In order to see change in the community we have to be the change,” Davis said.

Walker said future meetings can take place to discuss as a group on how to address violence.

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Honeya Price said what is important is “to be proactive and not reactive.”

She said she is concerned for public safety after there were four shootings in the sixth ward over the weekend.

“There is an epidemic of gun violence in the community. We need to get the message out by being relatable to the people,” she said.

Mayor Doug Franklin said he is encouraged to see so many church and organizational leaders coming together to address violence in Warren.

He said following a press conference on Tuesday there have been some calls to officials over violence.

Franklin said he believes coming together with various resources can make a solution attainable.

“We can take what we have discussed today and mobilize. We have to be committed and persistent,” Franklin said.

Walker said past meetings in previous years with the city officials have resulted in more black professors in law enforcement at Kent State Trumbull Campus, which has a police academy program. Black police officers, he said, may have a better understanding of the communities.

Walker said there has been special training for police officers who did not grow up in black communities.