On Tuesday, representatives from more than 50 Temple student organizations joined Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and fellow students at an event designed to promote suicide awareness and non violence.

Held in the Temple Performing Arts Center, “Peace in the City” was organized by Jaimee Swift, a senior communications major and president of the campus women’s group, Her Campus Temple. The event was sponsored by iChoose2live, a media and performing arts company that uses art and education to inspire young adults to make positive decisions. 

“My organization and I got to this point where, if no one is going to create the dialogue, we’ll create it,” said Swift. “Shenille Latrice, from iChoose2live, came and she liked Her Campus Temple and she wanted to work with us and it was the perfect moment: We wanted to talk about suicide prevention and suicide awareness and she has a play about suicide.”

The event included theatrical and musical performances, a question and answer session and a vigil in memory of those who have taken their own life. 

Speaking at the event, Mayor Nutter told students that they need to look out for one another.

“If you hear something, say something,” he said. “Your friend might say something to you, and you’re talking and you’re like ‘What? Did I just hear that? Did you just say something that was quite unusual; that you might do something to yourself or something to someone else?’ If you hear something, say something.”

Swift believes the event was a great way for the university to come together and for students to realize that they need to protect each other as part of the Temple family.

“Even if we touch one person, I feel like we are doing our job,” she said.