John Fuqua: Violence Reduction Takes Full-Time Effort
John Fuqua, Life Worth Living. Photo courtesy of John Fuqua.
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Fuqua is the founder of the nonprofit Life Worth Living in Bridgeton, which deals with youth development and engages at-risk young people throughout the county.
BY JOHN FUQUA | Life Worth Living
Violence Reduction Specialist is my full-time career. I made this decision and I’m saying it LOUD!
You can’t keep pissing on me and calling it rain. I’m a 49-year-old man but I know over 50 people that were murdered in Cumberland County. This is not a part-time issue. Talk to any family that have buried a loved one that was murdered.
I did not choose this work. From never being able to call AKbar and never being in line with True again for a Jordan release, this work is personal.
To Lil Jerome singing and my nephew rapping, I can never get another freestyle from them. We struggle on their birthdays, death days and holidays. Encouraging peace and love has to be daily but it makes no sense to beg for support to do it.
It’s Go Time!
NOTE: John W. Fuqua is the voice of the new podcast The Legal Plug with Richard Todd Edwards along with being widely-respected founder and chief executive officer of Life Worth Living. The nonprofit is dedicated to youth development, violence prevention, and community empowerment.
A former high school teacher, Fuqua left the classroom after the tragic loss of his nephew to violent crime — a turning point that inspired him to build an organization focused on saving lives, strengthening families, and creating safer neighborhoods. Founded in 2007, Life Worth Living operates as a community-based violence intervention program, offering mentorship, conflict resolution, street outreach, trauma support, and safe passage services for youth in high?risk areas.
The nonprofit also provides recreation programs, including youth and adult basketball leagues, and organizes major community engagement events across Cumberland County.
Fuqua is widely recognized as a hands-on leader who believes in “tough love” balanced with deep listening. His work extends beyond the nonprofit: he serves on the Cumberland County Recreation Committee Board and chairs the Cumberland County Violence Reduction Board through the Positive Youth Development Coalition.
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