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Communities explore out-of-the-box mentorship programs to reduce gun violence

Patty Santos

November 10, 2021 |

KSAT-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Richmond, California

Richmond's Operation Peacemaker Fellowship pairs mentors with young people at risk of violence, paying the youth a stipend if they meet particular goals toward a more stable and safe life. The mentors are former gang members and others with criminal records who earn the trust of their clients through their experiences and independence from the police. Other cities have adopted this model or similar approaches to preventing gun violence. One study said the Richmond program may have contributed to a significant decline in violence in that city.

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This anti-violence strategy has shown results. But Kansas City hasn't invested in it

Hurubie Meko

November 10, 2021 |

The Kansas City Star |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

Aim4Peace is the city of Kansas City's violence prevention program using the Cure Violence model of "violence interrupters" to mediate disputes before they turn deadly. Founded 12 years ago, the program's fairly robust startup funding gave it 18 outreach workers in a neighborhood that enjoyed relatively few homicides at the time. After grants ran out, the city failed to increase its own spending on the program, and so it remains a small pilot program, reduced in size and blamed for its inability to do more. Other cities spend far more, and have much more success to show for it.

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Lessons from a 'violence interrupter' as shootings continue to ravage Chicago

Deena Zaru

November 09, 2021 |

ABC News (American Broadcasting Company) |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Programs like UCAN Chicago use "violence interrupters" to mediate disputes before they turn violent and to connect people at risk of violence to the services that will give them a chance at a more stable, peaceful life. Decades after CeaseFire Chicago established this street-outreach approach to violence prevention, the work has been conducted mainly by former gang members and formerly incarcerated people with the credibility to reach the right people. Research on its effectiveness is mixed but promising, though the resources don't come close to meeting the need. This story profiles one Chicago worker.

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These Philadelphians Created an App to Prevent Gun Violence

Maytal Eyal

November 04, 2021 |

Wired |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philly Truce is a mobile app that lets people in crisis ask for help from volunteer conflict mediators without involving the police. The app connects people to social services and to volunteers who can help ensure that a personal conflict does not turn violent. Two Philadelphia men with a modest investment launched the app in May 2021. Hundreds already have used it to de-escalate disputes or to volunteer to join the effort to reduce violence. The founders hope to expand the project to other cities.

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Don't Call the Police

Michael Hovde

November 01, 2021 |

What's Next Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

DontCallThePolice.com went online at the height of the 2020 social justice protests to give people a list of resources when they need help and might otherwise default to calling the police. The site is a directory of services in 80 cities, such as mental health care, substance use treatment, and services for youth and elders. The site averages about 20,000 visits per month as its existence becomes known. Information is crowdsourced.

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Anti-violence programs are working. But can they make a dent in Chicago's gun violence?

Patrick Smith

November 01, 2021 |

WBEZ |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is home to multiple street-outreach programs that target the people most likely to be shot or to shoot others, and that provide them with social services that keep them and others in their network safe. Programs like READI, CRED, and CP4P have shown strong results in studies of their ability to help people get access to education and jobs while avoiding arrest or injury. But community violence in Chicago is so entrenched that the existing programs lack the scale and structure to make meaningful reductions in Chicago's street violence.

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I found my stolen Honda Civic using a Bluetooth tracker. It's the latest controversial weapon against theft.

Heather Kelly

October 28, 2021 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices were designed to find lost purses and key rings. But the devices, sold under such names as Tile, AirTag, and Chipolo, also can be used to find stolen cars, bikes, or other valuables. Even though manufacturers like Apple have actively discouraged their use in DIY crime-fighting, people have found success where simply calling the police has failed. But police caution about the physical risks in confronting a thief rather than calling the police once a piece of property is pinpointed on a map.

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She was bleeding from a stab wound. A congressional staffer intervened

Jim Saska

October 28, 2021 |

Roll Call |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

The Violence Intervention Program at Baltimore's Shock Trauma Center counsels victims of violence and links them to needed social services to try to keep them safe from future injury. Such hospital-based trauma care is rooted in the reality that many people are repeat victims of violence, and that mental health care, jobs, and other assistance can help some find greater safety. One advocate for federally funded expansion of such programs saw firsthand how this evidence-based strategy still faces daunting obstacles to its wider adoption.

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To Fight Rising Murder Rate, More Cities Find, Mentor and Pay Likely Shooters

Zusha Elinson

October 27, 2021 |

Wall Street Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fresno, California

Advance Peace Fresno tries to turn youth away from violence through mentoring, job training, and by paying them a monthly stipend of up to $1,000 if they hit certain benchmarks in their rehabilitation. The program has recruited 19 young people for its fellowships, following a model that is associated with violence declines in Richmond and Sacramento, and is spreading to multiple other cities. Opponents of the stipends say the agency should not pay people to obey the law. But Advance Peace's strategy is based on using the promise of legitimate income to keep people engaged.

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Sedgwick County looks to San Antonio for mental health solutions

Mark Wiebe Hunter Funk

October 27, 2021 |

The Kansas Leadership Center Journal (KLC Journal) |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Antonio, Texas

Since the early 2000s, when its overcrowded jail led to a decision to jail fewer people instead of adding more cells, Bexar County, Texas, has provided comprehensive help to people likely to end up jailed if social and health services are lacking: people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse. A crisis center gives police and residents a place to bring people needing help other than an emergency room or jail. The Haven for Hope is a campus offering an array of services and shelter. Homelessness and the jail population are both way down.

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