General

The past and the present collided in a conversation on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, its lasting effects, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as the Family Action Network hosted a panel discussion at Evanston Township High School on Monday, April 29, 2024. Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) Executive Director Vaughn Bryant reflected on how Dr. King’s vision continues to inform his organization’s efforts in combating gun violence across Chicago.

The neighborhood of Midway recently celebrated the grand opening of a new Pan de Vida, which translates to “Bread of Life”, location at New Life Centers. This marked a collaborative effort with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to provide food to thousands within the community. Born from a mother and daughter team in 2010, Pan de Vida, an open food pantry service, had the goal to feed those in need. With this expansion, Pan de Vida now proudly serves in four locations across the city, extending its reach from Humboldt Park to Little Village, Albany Park, and now Midway.

Influence and the power of a platform were the topics of conversation during a panel discussion on gun violence policy at the Community Justice Action Fund Policy and Advocacy Summit on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Washington D.C. The full-day event, which was followed by a lobby “action day” on Wednesday, served as an immersive training for community violence intervention (CVI) professionals, gun violence survivors, and policymakers to learn how to be effective advocates and communicate top priorities for policy change.

Community violence intervention (CVI) experts from across Chicago came together for a panel discussion entitled “Civilian Infrastructure for Public Safety” on Friday, April 12, 2024 at UCAN headquarters in Homan Square. Hosted by Leadership Greater Chicago, the conversation aimed to highlight how organizations such as the coalition of Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI), and Chicago CRED are playing their part in addressing gun violence.

The Illinois Peace Project invites you to join us for a CVI Rally Day in Springfield, IL on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 to help permanently fund the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RSPA), a comprehensive approach to violence prevention. A collaborative of CVI organizations, faith leaders, and community members will take the trip to make our voices heard.

Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) community violence intervention (CVI) professionals and representatives from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) met at the new Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) for a CVI and CPD Professional Understanding session. The workshop was the first of two sessions in which both groups are seeking to foster mutual understandings of each other’s roles in the public safety. With the shared goal of reducing gun violence in Chicago, both parties worked to collaborate effectively.

Members of Chicago’s former community violence intervention organization CeaseFire, formerly known as Cure Violence, recently reunited, marking the organization’s historical contribution and its ongoing impact on gun violence prevention efforts. This significant celebration commemorated the enduring legacy of CeaseFire’s pioneering initiative established in 1995 to combat gun violence in Chicago.

The Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC) and the Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) hosted an intimate reception and site visit for the Department of Justice on Thursday, April 4, 2024 following the 2024 CVIPI Grantee Conference. Guests were guided through the newly-opened space, while mixing and mingling with other professionals in the community violence intervention (CVI) field.

Overheard at the 2024 CVIPI Grantee Conference Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) and Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) were present at the 2024 Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Grantee Conference which took place from April 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. The four-day event provided the opportunity for community violence intervention (CVI)…

‘I Wanted to Change the Narrative’: How One Outreach Worker Transformed His Life There’s something to be said about an individual who has the self-determination to change their circumstances, despite old habits or outside influences. One who doesn’t necessarily wait for the perfect time to change course, or for things to get “bad enough.” Instead,…