Walking down Clinton Avenue, Justin Gaddy and his staff at Albany 518 SNUG canvassed the area to let residents know about some upcoming events.
“We canvass probably at least 10 hours a week,” said Gaddy, who serves as the program manager. “Every day, we come out and check in on the community status.”
It’s work that Gaddy takes very serious, especially with the increase in shootings over the last two years. He and his team are working to address conflicts that could get out of hand and be mediators.
“We want to make sure Zone B gets this information the most,” Gaddy tells his team, as they continue to make their way down the street.
More than a decade ago, Gaddy was involved with guns and gangs. His actions resulted in a six-year federal prison sentence. He was released in 2015.
Looking to give back in a positive way, a friend named Elijah Cancer got him to join the anti-violence group SNUG.
“This is where I wanted to be,” Gaddy said. “I wanted to be a better community leader, a better leader period, and I wanted to give back to my community. And I’m grateful for him for helping me get here into this position.”
He joined SNUG is 2018. But that same year, Cancer was shot and killed while attempting to break up a fight, according to police.
Gaddy works to continue Cancer’s mission of removing guns from the streets, from outreach worker to supervisor, and today as program manager.
“I do feel like there has been some progress that has been made,” Gaddy said. “I feel like the community is coming together a lot more and they’re trying to de-escalate situations on their own.”
Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an additional $6.3 million in grants to combat gun violence statewide.
That included $311,000 to Trinity Alliance, which oversees SNUG. Gaddy said that money will go toward hiring hospital responders and social workers to help victims.
“It played a really big part in my life,” Gaddy said. “It helped change me, it helped develop me more to a better man and a better person and a better community leader.”
The uptick in violence during the pandemic has taken a toll, so the extra staff is a relief.
Creating a better environment for his children and others is what motivates Gaddy. He wants to make sure they don’t go through what he experienced growing up in the city.
