ORLANDO, Fla. — United States House Rep. Maxwell Frost joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Monday to discuss a bill that would create a new office in the Department of Justice. The proposed Office of Gun Violence Prevention would bring together those most affected by gun violence, fund prevention programs, and create policy recommendations.

Frost’s proposal comes amid a recent string of violence in the Orlando area — including two separate shootings Easter weekend.

Three people were killed during a shooting at Poppy Park Sunday evening, while that morning, Orlando police say four people, including a child, were shot and killed in the Parramore neighborhood. 

“Gun violence is a daily event in this country, so, at the federal level, we must work on this issue every single day until we end this epidemic and establish this as a national priority. An Office of Gun Violence Prevention is the right first step,” Frost, a Democrat, said in a release.

The bill hopes to enhance gun violence prevention programs. Orlando is home to several mentorship organizations aimed at gun violence prevention, including one that met with students on Easter Sunday.

Community advocates referring to themselves as “Hope Dealers” met with kids to share their personal stories of overcoming addiction or violence.

“What’s one kid’s life worth? To me, it’s priceless, because I have lost too many kids to the cemetery and penitentiary,” said Hope Dealer Eric Schwalbach.

Frost’s proposal aims to educate people about gun safety laws. The office would also create an annual report on gun violence for policy makers and include proposals for new legislation.

While Frost focused on the big-picture changes, advocates said there are things members of the community can do now to build upon critical intervention work that's already happening at the local level. 

Bishop Kelvin Cobaris said the local Boys and Girls Club in his neighborhood was pivotal to his childhood. Now he works to bring the same positive impacts to young people today, through Save Our Students outreach, an extracurricular youth engangement program held at nine Boys and Girls Club locations throughout Orange County. 

About 100 kids participate in the program, which Cobaris said is funded by the county. It's where kids can get together, do fun activities and meet with mentors who want to see them succeed. 

He said summer is the most dangerous season when many kids are unsupervised, however, there has already been an uptick in crime. 

"We're already seeing a height in violence and it's not summer. So imagine what it's going to be like during the summer months. So my ideal is, don't wait for it to come, let's be proactive, lets' get in front of it, let's everybody engage," Cobaris said. 

Dominick Major, the uncle of T'yonna Major, 9, who was killed in a string of shootings on Feb. 22, including Nathacha Augustin and Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons, announced a new nonprofit in her honor — Yaya Strong. He said it will focus on helping those in need, which T'yonna loved to do. 

"Everything starts in the community. When you love and you respect your community, things change in the community. There are things that you're not gonna tolerate in that community. So everything starts there," he said. 

Cobaris believes the more people get involved, the more young people will turn away from bad activities that lead to crime. 

"Instead of just pointing the finger, we all have to take a level of accountability and responsibility on what we need to do to make our community better," he said.