Work on the streets to build partnerships to reduce and prevent violence
For generations, violence has been disproportionately high in communities with high levels of people living below the NPPS, and it has been even worse in the past few years.
Bring non-violent approaches to violence interruption in your community, learning effective outreach and conflict mediation techniques from groups (such as the two below) that have been practicing this in cities across the country.
To get started:
Research non-violence and violence interruption practices to develop skills to engage peacefully.
Develop hyper-local responses to violence that reflect long-term commitment to residents rather than punitive lessons.
Implement trauma-informed programming that engages the entire community where violence is present.
Build partnerships with the influencers in your community, doing constant outreach until you can make connections and bring people together, regardless of how long it takes and whatever setbacks occur.
Best Practices / Innovative Programs
The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago believes that we are all responsible for ending violence. We all need to work together for real, long-lasting change to happen. They lift every voice, collaborating with other local organizations, mediating positive interactions between law enforcement and community members, and also working closely with communities directly— engaging, informing, and empowering residents to be peacemakers. Their community organizer and nonviolence trainers work block by block to get community members interested and involved in bringing about the changes they want to see in their neighborhoods.
The Roca Impact Institute works with communities that have a clear commitment to addressing violence by working with young people who are at the center of local incidents and trends. The Institute engages with cities around the country to change together, using a systems approach to meet the unique needs of the individuals in that community.
