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DOJ Grant Opportunity Closing Tomorrow! [[link removed]]
Click here for more information. [[link removed]]
Last month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened its 3rd grant solicitation for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). The solicitation provides details and instructions on how interested entities can apply for the grant. CVIPI was created to prevent and reduce community-based gun violence by supporting comprehensive, evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs based on partnerships among community residents, local government agencies, victim service providers, community-based organizations (CBOs), hospitals, researchers, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders.
Applicants must meet two deadlines to be considered for this grant opportunity. The first deadline is May 30 at 8:59 p.m. EST, and the second deadline is June 10 at 8:59 p.m. EST.
Community Justice has worked with its partners to ensure local community-based organizations (CBOs) are aware of this available funding stream and encouraged to apply. CBOs can earn up to $2 million through CVIPI.
Upcoming Events
Next Invest in Us Coalition meeting: The INVEST IN US Coalition consists of national and local gun violence prevention organizations committed to building support to fund evidence-based community solutions to end gun violence and educate leaders and the general public about proactive solutions to make our communities safer. At these meetings, we discuss federal and state affairs for gun violence prevention in communities of color, including strategies for congressional appropriations, funding, and legislative events.
This coalition meets monthly . The next meeting will be on Thursday, June 20, at 3 PM EST . If you would like to join this coalition, please send us an email.
TAKE ACTION WITH OUR PARTNERS
[[link removed]] Austin Gun Violence Prevention Summit (May 31 - June 1):
Community Justice is excited to partner with ATX Peace and Cities United for the 3rd Annual Gun Violence Summit in Austin, Texas. Back by popular demand, the Austin Gun Violence Prevention Summit will feature community organizations actively working in communities helping to reduce acts of violence and support those directly affected by these tragedies.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Common Justice & Center for American Progress Victim Compensation focus group:
Common Justice is partnering with the Center for American Progress on a scorecard grading project to evaluate victim compensation programs nationwide. This project will ultimately call for change and will be made available as a tool for advocates, lawmakers, and the public.
They will hold eight focus groups this summer to hear directly from those who have interacted with this system, including victims and survivors, advocates, and service providers, to help us hold these programs accountable. They would be thrilled if you participated in a focus group and passed along the opportunity to your colleagues, network, and survivors.
Note: The deadline to sign up for a focus group is June 10th, 2024.
SIGN UP HERE [[link removed]]
MAY RECAP
Governor Wes Moore signs Maryland Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention bill into law!
The Center for Violence Prevention and Intervention would be housed in the Department of Health to serve as a central point for the administration of state violence intervention efforts and to provide technical assistance for violence intervention efforts around the state.
The goal of public health approaches to violence reduction is to interrupt cycles of violence and to inoculate the public against violence by engaging in direct, community-focused efforts that engage with individuals in their communities and healthcare settings. This approach asks the various components of the administration to use what is at their disposal and to communicate and coordinate effectively across agencies to improve public safety and reduce violence.
Community Justice hosted an Instagram live with Policymaker for Peace, Delegate Nicole Williams to discuss the historic win with the center bill, the next steps for the center, and her work in gun violence prevention.
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READ MORE ABOUT THE CENTER [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Hennepin County Safer Communities Summit
Community Justice joined Cities United and Hennepin County’s community violence prevention department for their Safe Communities Summit. The summit included providing insight into the CVI ecosystem, how to prevent violence, elevating youth voices, and our Founder, Amber Goodwin, hosted a session about accessing federal funding.
Illinois Community Violence Intervention Lobby Day
Community Justice led lobby day in partnership with the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence, Illinois Moms for Change, and Safe Illinois, to advocate for three bills coming to the legislative floor.
About the bills:
Karina’s Bill ( HB4469/SB2633 [[link removed]] ) would strengthen laws to require a firearm to be removed when a domestic violence survivor is granted the firearm remedy in an order of protection.
The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act ( HB4753 [[link removed]] ) would address low homicide clearance rates across the state of Illinois, strengthening community trust in police and increasing participation in investigations.
The Homicide Data Transparency Bill ( HB4754 [[link removed]] ) would amend the Uniform Crime Reporting Act and require Illinois law enforcement agencies to record and publish monthly homicide data for the public.
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STATE & FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
FY25 Appropriations Cycle
Stakeholder Engagement. Community Justice and the Invest in Us Coalition finalized their first set of advocacy efforts for the FY25 appropriations cycle. Through a letter, they shared their funding requests to Congress regarding community-based violence intervention (CVI) and prevention programming. The request asks Congress to provide $200 million for the DOJ's Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) and $268 million for the CDC's Community and Youth Violence Prevention Program. The Prevention Institute, Big Cities Health Coalition, Safe States Alliance, and the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) also sent letters, respectively, to the House and Senate Appropriations committees highlighting their identical requests for CVI programming.
House and Senate Led Advocacy. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) led letters of support within their respective chamber for CVI programming in FY25. They matched Community Justice’s request for CVI and circulated it with their colleagues for signatures before submitting it to the House and Senate appropriations committees. The House letter garnered 132 signers, and the Senate letter acquired 27 signers. These figures represent the highest number of signatories for each letter, and Community Justice is very thankful for Rep. Kelly and Sens. Booker and Duckworth’s leadership, along with the support from the Invest in Us coalition during that process.
STATES IN ACTION
In Illinois , Community Justice joined in celebrating the kick-off of the second cohort for the University of Chicago’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy. This academy is a first-of-its-kind program designed to train community violence intervention leaders from across America.
Community Justice participated in an engaging convening led by the Joyce Foundation, meeting with partners across the gun violence prevention movement, moving forward strategic state campaigns, and preparing for keeping gun violence prevention at the center of the upcoming elections.
Our Southeast Regional Advocacy Associate, Brent, represented Community Justice at various events throughout May:
In Louisiana :
*
At
the
Ben
Franklin
Middle
School
Justice
Camp,
Brent
spoke
with
over
80
middle
school
students.
Students
learned
more
about
Community
Justice
and
participated
in
group
workshop
activities
centered
around
solutions
to
ending
gun
violence.
At
the
end
of
the
session,
Justice
Camp
attendees
understood
the
true
tenets
of
community
and
justice.
*
At
the
Ben
Franklin
Elementary
and
Middle
School
Career
Day,
Brent
spoke
with
12
fourth-
to
eighth-grade
classes.
He
was
invited
to
the
career
day
to
talk
with
the
students
about
his
journey,
activism,
and
how
students
can
use
their
platform
to
advocate
for
change
in
their
community.
Students
were
eager
to
participate
in
various
scenarios
depicting
the
root
causes
of
violence
in
their
communities.
In collaboration with Becky Ceartas, Executive Director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, Brent presented at the Rocky Mount, North Carolina CVI Briefing. They spoke to business leaders, community members, and frontline workers about the importance of investing in community-led solutions such as community violence prevention.
UPCOMING TRAININGS & PARTNERSHIPS
Louisiana Invest In Us Coalition Meeting (May 29) – The purpose of the Louisiana Invest In Us Coalition is to collectively address the issue of gun violence and work towards its reduction or elimination. Our priorities are to actively work towards reducing instances of gun violence through collaborative efforts and strategies. This includes implementing policies, promoting education, and supporting community-based interventions to address the root causes of gun violence. This coalition aims to collaboratively create safer communities and protect individuals from the devastating impact of gun-related incidents.
SEND US AN EMAIL TO JOIN THE COALITION [[email protected]?subject=REQUEST%20TO%20JOIN%3A%20Louisiana%20Invest%20In%20Us%20Coalition%20Meeting&body=I%27d%20like%20to%20join%20the%20Louisiana%20Invest%20in%20Us%20Coalition%21]
[[link removed]] Austin Gun Violence Prevention Summit (May 31 - June 1): Community Justice is excited to partner with ATX Peace and Cities United for the 3rd Annual Gun Violence Summit in Austin, Texas. Back by popular demand, the Austin Gun Violence Prevention Summit will feature community organizations actively working in communities helping to reduce acts of violence and support those directly affected by these tragedies.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION [[link removed]]
Virtual Netroots Panel: Ni Uno Mas - Our States Program Director, Kim Gutierrez, will be featured in a panel discussion on the different ways gun violence shows up in Latino communities and the work that leaders are doing to keep our communities safe. From organizations that have been in the fight for generations to leaders that are just getting started, this panel discussion will aim to provide a diverse perspective on the issue that plagues Latinx communities.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR [[link removed]]
Gun Sense University: Moms Demand Action x Divine 9: Gun Violence Power Hour (June 9th) - Community Justice will be presenting at the Divine 9 Gun Violence Power Hour, part of Moms Demand Action’s Gun Sense University, to discuss the impacts of gun violence in Black communities and the pivotal historical role the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities have played in social justice movements.
Force Detroit CVI Advocacy Day 2024 (June 13th) – Community Justice is excited to join Force Detroit in their CVI Lobby Day in Lansing, MI. The day will entail legislative canvassing, guest speakers, and funding education for CVI initiatives.
Marching to End Gun Violence Detroit (June 30th) - Community Justice will be speaking at the March to End Gun Violence rally hosted by the Charles W. Reid Community Help Center in Detroit, MI. This is a part of the 20 Silence the Violence Rally being hosted across the state throughout June.
NEWS OF INTEREST
DOJ Grant Opportunity Closing Tomorrow! [[link removed]]
Click here for more information. [[link removed]]
Last month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened its 3rd grant solicitation for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). The solicitation provides details and instructions on how interested entities can apply for the grant. CVIPI was created to prevent and reduce community-based gun violence by supporting comprehensive, evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs based on partnerships among community residents, local government agencies, victim service providers, community-based organizations (CBOs), hospitals, researchers, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders.
Applicants must meet two deadlines to be considered for this grant opportunity. The first deadline is May 30 at 8:59 p.m. EST, and the second deadline is June 10 at 8:59 p.m. EST.
June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month [[link removed].]
This month, we honor the lives affected by gun violence, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to centering those most impacted by gun violence to educate, and build political power.
[[link removed]] [[link removed]] T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project's End Gun Violence Citywide Conference + Festival 2024 [[link removed]]
Gun violence is a disease, that should not just be treated as a crime, which everyone is exposed to in Washington, DC and surrounding areas but coming together can bring awareness, hope and true change.
Join youth, victims, businesses, artists, organizers, survivors, agencies, media, and more for a one of a kind End Gun Violence Citywide Festival on Friday, June 7, 2024 on National Gun Violence Awareness Day from 11pm-4pm at Franklin Park DC.
Community Justice has worked with its partners to ensure local community-based organizations (CBOs) are aware of this available funding stream and encouraged to apply. CBOs can earn up to $2 million through CVIPI.

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