Enlace Chicago and New Life Centers Host Advocacy Meeting on Community Violence Intervention in Little Village

Local organizations and elected officials gather to discuss community violence intervention (CVI) advocacy in Little Village on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Community leaders, elected officials, and local organizations gathered in Little Village on Thursday, October 10, 2024, for a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) advocacy meeting hosted by Enlace Chicago and New Life Centers. Both Enlace Chicago and New Life Centers are two of 15 organizations representing Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), a coalition of nonprofit organizations dedicated to gun violence prevention across 28 neighborhoods, convened by the Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI). The event focused on ongoing efforts to address gun violence in the area and the critical role of policy advocacy in supporting community violence intervention.

The gathering featured notable attendance from U.S. Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García, State Senator Celina Villanueva, 22nd Ward Alderman Michael D. Rodríguez, 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and staff from the offices of Illinois State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. and U.S. Congresswoman Alma Anaya.

“If you want to be a part of history, be a part of policy change,” Vero Ortiz, Director of Clinical Services at Enlace Chicago, stated as she opened the meeting. All attendees recognized the importance of sustained commitment to systemic reform in shaping the future of community violence intervention.

Cesar Nuñez, Co-Executive Director of Enlace Chicago, praised shared spaces where leaders and community members can engage in meaningful dialogue and action. “I’m very happy we can come together in a space like this. We’ve got community leaders and elected officials. For me, knowing that we can do this is beautiful. This work is very hard and heavy, but being able to come together is essential,” Nuñez shared.

CEO of New Life Centers Matt DeMateo reflects on the progress made with community violence intervention in Chicago.

As the meeting continued, A’Keisha Lee, Policy Analyst for Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, spoke on the impact of outreach efforts across the 12th, 22nd, and 25th Wards. “Between April and June this year, CVI outreach workers hosted nearly 600 events and made almost 200 referrals to support services,” said Lee. “Overall, there has been a 3% reduction in gun victimization across the city.”

The advocacy meeting served as a valuable platform for updates and planning, with Ald. Sigcho-Lopez emphasizing the need to bring together community leaders and elected officials. “It’s crucial for us to collaborate, so we can effectively discuss a strategic plan. Your voices are vital in these discussions,” he stated.

As Pastor Manny Rivera from Victory Outreach Church closed out the meeting, he expressed optimism about the future and the positive changes ahead for the community. “You can see the leadership in Little Village. We’re closer than we’ve ever been before. We’re just around the corner from something powerful and transformative that’s going to impact our young people and everyone in Little Village. It takes us leaders to work together, putting our agendas aside to serve our community.”

As elected officials and community leaders continue their work toward policy that will support gun violence prevention efforts, events like Enlace Chicago and New Life Centers’ advocacy meeting are instrumental. Meaningful progress is achieved through continued partnership, dialogue, and sustained action. Together, we are building a safer and stronger future for Little Village, Chicago and beyond.