READI Chicago is an innovative response to gun violence in our city, providing an unprecedented model of mental health and workforce development supports to men at the very highest risk. As a unique model, READI’s focus on contributing to public health and increased community safety has important implications on a national scale.
When COVID-19 became the global focus of public safety thinking, we focused on the immediate impact on our communities served by street outreach and re-entry programs. To address the emerging challenges of the changing landscape of violence prevention, workforce development, and re-entry services, we joined forces to leverage our networks and engage a group of peers, partners, and allies to form a cross-country coalition.
As a result, Heartland Alliance, READI Chicago, Art of Social Impact Consulting, and other partners launched the National Coalition for Gun Violence Interventions. The Coalition includes experts, practitioners, policy makers, and researchers who work through a public health approach to ensure that individuals, families, and whole communities can thrive by preventing and ending gun violence and gun-related deaths nationwide.
Ultimately, the Coalition hopes to spur a reduction in gun violence, incarceration, and legal system involvement, and instead increase use of best practices and proven methods of connection to meaningful opportunities and services. Since the group launched at the beginning of the pandemic, over 28 organizations from 15 cities have joined, helping to advise President Biden’s transition teams to set priorities around addressing gun violence. The group participated in national listening session and submitted policy recommendations, paving the way for a $5.6 billion potential investment in our collective work through the American Jobs Plan.
We know that there is no single solution to gun violence—only through local, state, and national collaboration can we work toward safer communities to save more lives. As a first step, the National Coalition for Gun Violence Interventions is working to share best practices to support violence interventions; increase community engagement through virtual and in-person rallies, public events, and more; and to enlist members to serve on a community organizing advisory board to influence policy and funding decisions.
Coalition Partners:
|
Accelerator for America |
Community Passageways |
Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) for the District of Columbia |
|
Alliance for Safety and Justice |
Council on Criminal Justice |
PowerCorpsPHL |
|
Art of Social Impact Consulting |
Crime and Justice Institute |
Professional Community Intervention Training Institute |
|
Choose 180 |
DLIVE |
Public Health Madison & Dade County |
|
City of Cleveland, Community Relations Board |
Focused Interruption |
Roca |
|
City of Minneapolis, Office of Violence Prevention |
Garden Pathways |
Southern California Crossroads |
|
City of Philadelphia, Office of Violence prevention |
Harris County |
The Cradle to Grave Program – Temple University Hospital |
|
City of Madison Wisconsin |
LA County Health Services Office of Diversion and Reentry |
Turning Leaf |
|
City of Seattle, Office of Civil Right |
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services |
Ummah Futures International |
|
Chicago Cred |
Nehemiah, Center for Urban Leadership Development |
United Better Thinking |
|
Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance |
Office of Harris County |
Zero Youth Detention at King County Department |
