Claretian Associates Hosts Community Violence Advocacy Briefing in South Chicago

Residents, elected officials, and community violence intervention (CVI) professionals gathered for a community violence advocacy briefing on September 8 in South Chicago. (Photo by James Guyton/Rudd Resources)

Claretian Associates welcomed residents, elected officials, and community violence intervention (CVI) professionals as they hosted an advocacy briefing on September 8 at the South Chicago SALUD Center. The Friday morning meeting was an opportunity to discuss continued efforts to reduce gun violence in the area and across the city.

The event included dozens of attendees, including State Sen. Robert Peters, State Rep. Curtis J. Tarver II, State Rep. Marcus Evans, County Commissioner Stanley Moore, and Alderpersons Peter Chico (10th Ward) and Desmon Yancy (5th Ward). They listened as presenters laid out a plan to reduce violence and scale the work of CVI over the next 15 years.

Claretian Associates Chief Executive Officer Angela Hurlock drove home the point that “a safe community is a healthy community,” noting that access to affordable housing and jobs is vital in bettering the lives of residents.

“We still need help on the housing front, and then workforce development,” Hurlock said. “We need help making opportunities for our folks to get work, stay working, and get better jobs.”

She continued, “There is much work to be done, but together we can definitely do it.”

Speakers also included Claretian Associates’ CP4P Program Manager James “JJ” Sims and Outreach Worker Antoine Murray.

Claretian Associates was founded in 1991 to respond to the needs of the South Chicago neighborhood and surrounding areas. Its pillars of focus include CVI, housing, workforce development, and community building.

Claretian Associates’ CP4P Program Manager James “JJ” Sims speaks on his background and work with the organization. (Photo by James Guyton/Rudd Resources)