Click here for more information.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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) 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) 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) would amend the Uniform Crime Reporting Act and require Illinois law enforcement agencies to record and publish monthly homicide data for the public.

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.

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:

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

Click here for more information.

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 

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. 

T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project's End Gun Violence Citywide Conference + Festival 2024 

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.