INDIANAPOLIS - The Office of Public Health and Safety is continuing its effort to reduce gun violence on Indy's streets. On Wednesday, they focused on one group in particular: fathers. Numerous fathers like Shaquille Bell came out to the Frederick Douglass Family Center in Martindale Brightwood Wednesday night for "Fathers Fun Fest." And it's all for a good cause -- to get fathers together to spend time with their kids in an effort to reduce gun violence. "Being able to come out into the community where gun violence is a big problem as well and enjoy the time with my children and see other fathers as well doing what's needed to be done in the community, it's a great feeling," said Bell. The cause hits close to home for Bell as he lost his sister in 2022 and his cousin in 2019 to gun violence. He brought his kids to Wednesday's event to put a stop to the heartbreaking cycle. "Having a father in your life is huge. Having both your parents, period. But just having that male figure, the fatherhood, that can teach you something a mother can't simply teach you, it definitely plays a big role having the love and guidance from a father," said Bell. Indy Peace, Office of Public Health and Safety and Indy Parks hosted the initiative as part of Mayor Hogsett's ongoing violence reduction strategy. The event aims to foster family connections, support fathers and provide resources to empower individuals and families at the highest risk. OPHS officials said targeting fathers and father figures is key when it comes to curbing and addressing the root causes of violence. "We want to help them. So not only are we going to have fun stuff today, but really focusing on resources. Everybody who is coming today registered. They told us what kind of needs they have so we've made a really big effort to have all those resources kind of lined up today," said Shardae Hoskins with Indy OPHS. And for fathers like Bell, they said it's get-togethers like this that can make all the difference. "I would love to see events like this happen more often in the city and the community, especially for Black fathers and be part of that change and let my children be part of that change that the city needs," said Bell.