CUA Law student Veda Rasheed (4E), who was selected as the Mid-Atlantic Law Student of the Year by The National Jurist magazine in their Spring 2017 magazine, continues to work tirelessly to make her southeast Washington, D.C., neighborhood safer. On June 3, 2017, Rasheed organized the second annual Increase the Peace Rally at KIPP D.C. Benning Campus.

The rally and parade began at KIPP D.C. Benning Campus and moved through Ward 7 to the Boys and Girls Clubhouse #14. Participants brought signs, memorabilia, and homemade chants and performances to make their voices heard. More than 200+ community members joined the march and rallied for an end to violence. The march was attended by D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine, Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray, and At-Large Councilmember Robert C. White Jr. Attorney General Racine spoke at the rally and reiterated that the government's most important job is to support our communities and work to make them safer. This requires investing in data-based strategies that interrupt violence, provide support to those at risk of committing violence, and produce safer outcomes.

Participants also included the D.C. Department of Employment Services, the Commission on Father, Son, and Boys, Marshall Heights Bisons, P.A.V.E. (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education), Community of Hope, the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, the DeLoren Foundation, KIPP DC (Knowledge is Power Program), the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club, Northeast Performing Arts Group, Neighborhood Legal Services Program, and Rocketship D.C.

"From the young to the old we showed that violence would not be overlooked in our community any longer. Until violence is reduce or non-existent I will promote awareness about violence and to foster the commitment to social change," Rasheed said.