An outreach program called SNUG is asking the public to be proactive in helping to end gun violence among Poughkeepsie’s youth.

A 14-year-old boy was shot multiple times near Garden Street on May 23. He was rushed to a nearby hospital then flown to Westchester Medical Center.

Today, community members, leaders and others joined SNUG to bring awareness to gun violence. Attendees met near Sunday’s shooting scene.

The group explained their efforts to end gun violence plaguing the city’s youth should be equally met with action from the community and families.

Several teens have been shot over the past year, some of the incidents being fatal.

Members like Eric Yaya Archer of SNUG are asking people to be proactive. "If you're not comfortable coming to the family partnership, we're going to come to you. We just need you to actually raise your hand and let us know you're there because obviously there's people we can help.”

Antuone Babb of Family Services SNUG says it’s time to address the root of the problem.

"Hurt people, hurt people. And we need to catch this from the front end, rather than the back end. When people are experiencing cat hairs and triggers, we need to identify them, rather than reacting to their behaviors,” says Babb.

The identity of the teen shot on Sunday hasn’t been released, but News 12 is told he remains at Westchester Medical Center and authorities are still investigating the incident.