Stephné R. Coney, a native and resident of the city, decided that she wanted to make a change in her community. Dr. Coney saw how violence and other ailments affected her neighborhood and the citizens within. Violence and gang activity had grown rapid and its effects became much more internal than external. With the teachings of nonviolence seen in the philosophies of Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa, Dr. Coney incorporated National Stop the Violence and its immediate mission was to end violence across the country. Dr. Coney started the National Stop the Violence Alliance in 1991 "when Camden was burning down." Along with years of working with congressional leaders across the political landscape and presidents, to "frontliners" (police and firefighters) and powerful black leaders like Jesse Jackson and the former Rosa Parks, Coney is an impassioned motivational speaker in her own right. Dr. Coney has diligently worked to drive awareness of the challenges facing urban families - the mothers running the households and the children, and she points to the shocking statistics of the numbers of killing happening annually in cities around the U.S. She describes a picture of a young child holding a gun and says there is nothing more disturbing. Coney advocates stronger and more aggressive gun laws, to protect and preserve the children, the law enforcement professionals and the greater communities. Dr. Stephné R. Coney is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith, Texas Southern, and Nova Southeastern Universities. She holds a total of six degrees, including a doctorate in Youth and Child Studies and Human Services. Dr. Coney is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and other prestigious organizations. She has one daughter.
Login to view more
