Community leaders in Yonkers are banding together to reduce gang violence.

Clergy, police and social workers held a conference at the Nepperhan Community Center this morning.

The free event featured a panel, including former inmates, who spoke of turning their lives around. While city leaders say gang violence has been recently reduced, they want to see the trend continue. "It doesn't affect the individual, it affects families, it affects entire communities. It puts people's lives in fear who live in a community and just want to live in peace," says Jim Bostic, of the Nepperhan Community Center.

A new anti-gang initiative is planned for early next year. The five-year program will target 500 local young adults and at-risk youth in Westchester.