A community leader said Yonkers is at a critical juncture in the city's efforts to stem gang violence.

Nepperhan Community Center Executive Director Jim Bostic said he has invited the city’s mayor, police commissioner and faith leaders to a meeting Wednesday to discuss a strategy to stop gun violence.

The meeting comes after two back-to-back shootings on Saturday night, hours apart and less than a mile apart.

Police believe both incidents are gang related.

Nepperhan Community Center has programs to divert teens from joining gangs and gang violence.

"We've been doing a lot of work around that, but unfortunately you can’t reach everybody," Dr. Bostic said.

Curtailing gang violence is made even harder he said by the flow of illegal guns from southern states into New York.

"That's a huge part of it,” he said. “I mean, if they don’t have access to weapons then this doesn’t become an issue."

Yonkers resident David Gillian said he believes more youth programs are needed.

"They need mentors," he said. "Instead of pull a trigger, pull a pen sign an application or get your GED and diplomas."