SAN ANTONIO -- Churches on the city’s east-side came together Friday night as gun violence continues to plague their neighborhoods
The "Praise in the Hood" event featured dozens of Christian music groups performing in the parking lot of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church,
"In the midst of our community that village mentality has to be reestablished,” said Pastor Julius Sheppard. “And in that reestablishment the Church has to be has the focal point.”
A block away, 61-year-old Raymond Anthony expressed his doubts.
While playing dominoes in his front yard, he said he’s seen attempts like this to bring the community together before, and they haven’t worked.
"It's just a neglected neighborhood to be honest with you," said Anthony.
The lifelong east-side resident said if the city invested more time and money in projects like sidewalks and trash clean-up in the neighborhood, then attitudes might change.
He said only then might neighbors take more pride in where they live.
