Madison, WI – Following Governor Tony Evers’ executive order to establish the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention, Adzi Vokhiwa, Vice President of Policy at Community Justice, issued the following statement:

“Today, Governor Evers took a pivotal step toward creating safer communities by establishing a statewide Office of Violence Prevention. We extend our thanks to our community partners in Wisconsin whose life-saving work has demonstrated the effectiveness of violence intervention and made the case for such an office to continue supporting community-led efforts. This new office reflects a bold commitment to addressing the root causes of gun violence and the disproportionate harm that gun violence inflicts on Black and Brown Wisconsinites with evidence-informed strategies that center the voices of survivors and those most impacted. This action could not come at a more critical time. We urge Wisconsin’s elected leaders to support this effort, provide adequate resources for the office, and to take meaningful, bipartisan action to reduce gun violence and protect all residents.”

The Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention will:

Collaborate with local and state agencies, nonprofits, and law enforcement to strengthen violence prevention and intervention efforts.
Promote evidence-based violence intervention strategies and share best practices statewide.
Convene stakeholders to discuss community safety and prioritize the voices of victims and survivors.
Administer grants to support violence reduction initiatives in schools, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, and other entities.
Develop public education campaigns to foster safer communities and reduce violence.

Community Justice would also like to recognize the work of the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, which housed the first statewide fund in Wisconsin to address violence as a public health issue. The Comprehensive Injury Center’s demonstrated support of community-led efforts throughout the state makes them an excellent partner for coordination, research, and capacity building of violence prevention efforts in Wisconsin. Community Justice applauds the establishment of the new statewide Office of Violence Prevention and looks forward to supporting all of Wisconsin’s efforts to reduce gun violence and create safer communities for all.

Community Justice Applauds Governor Evers’ Leadership in Establishing Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention