For his first official visit since being appointed to lead the U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General Merrick Garland demonstrated his commitment to community safety and evidence-based violence interventions with a trip to READI Chicago.

Garland joined Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin at St. Agatha’s church in North Lawndale to hear from researchers, READI leadership and staff, participants, and community members about the effects of gun violence in our communities. Following two mass shootings within blocks of the church the night before, it was impossible to ignore the gravity of Chicago’s gun violence crisis.

 “We’re here today because the other half of this project [in addition to law enforcement] is relationships with the community,” Garland said at the beginning of the meeting, as quoted in USA Today’s coverage of the event. “We can’t hope to solve this problem without some of both.”

In this spirit, attendees demonstrated the ways READI combines evidence, relationships, and heart. Monica Bhatt of the University of Chicago Crime and Inclusive Economy labs gave an overview of the randomized control trial evaluating READI’s effectiveness at reducing shootings and homicides—so far, her team is seeing a 32% reduction in these kinds of violence for men who participate in READI Chicago, and a reduction of almost twice that for men who have relationships with READI prior to joining.

Staff from North Lawndale Employment Network and UCAN—the two community-based organizations that deliver READI programming in North Lawndale—talked with Garland and Durbin about what exactly they do to make those relationships so special, as well as how loss impacts the community. Still, they’re seeing hope.

“I have to think twice about if it’s safe to help my grandma with the groceries, and that isn’t right,” said one READI participant to the Attorney General. “I’m glad the country is paying attention to what’s happening, and to things that are working—like READI Chicago.”

Being a Chicago Bears rookie means focus, hard work, and a demanding schedule, but that didn’t keep this year’s rookie class from taking time away from training this month to meet and talk with men from READI Chicago about ways to make our city safer for all.

More than 15 Bears rookies met virtually with current and former READI participants working to leverage community organizing to create change. As one of five teams making up the Chicago Sports Alliance, the Bears not only help make programs like READI possible, but also play a critical role in coordinating and supporting efforts to reduce violence in our city.

“We need real talk and to have real conversations with you guys [in READI] so we know what’s happening in communities,” said LaMar Campbell, Director of Player Engagement. “We’re thinking about how we come together and turn these conversations into action.”

For the men in READI Chicago, feeling the support of the Bears and the City of Chicago behind them means real hope for real solutions.

“This is a chance for people to come together and talk about what the real problem is,” said READI participant Sylvester. “Giving guys a chance to talk and be heard, especially by the Bears, is really what it’s about. We need more role models, more positive opportunities to talk about our neighborhoods.”

This June, the U.S. Justice Department shared plans to curb gun violence trafficking in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and other cities grappling with gun violence. Following this announcement, READI Chicago’s Eddie Bocanegra met with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss the importance of investing in community-based violence interventions, ahead of the unveiling of the president’s plan to combat violent crime and promote safer communities.

Also present for the conversation were Attorney General Merrick Garland; City of Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cara; New Jersey Attorney General Burbir Grewal; Chief of the Baton Rouge Police Department Murphy Paul, Jr.; and Advance Peace Founder and CEO Devone Boggan.

Following the meeting, President Biden announced his plans to curb violent crime and gun violence by focusing on community-based interventions and stricter gun enforcement laws.

The president, Eddie said, was focused on hearing firsthand what communities need to heal and recover from decades of disinvestment, poverty, and trauma. While the past year has seen violent crime and homicides increase, READI Chicago has been able to successfully keep individuals safe and free. Eddie conveyed that in order to save the most lives, it’s critical to put our country’s resources where they will have the greatest impact, by helping to build safer communities across the U.S. Conversations like these are critical to continuing to build safer communities across the U.S.

“I was focused on uplifting the voices of the men I’ve grown up with and now work with—people dealing with the real physical, emotional, and generational toll of gun violence,” Eddie said. “It was powerful witnessing the president of the United States listen to what is working and what still needs to be done, and then to hear that commitment reflected in his announcement.”