NFL Renews ‘Inspire Change’ Grant With Metropolitan Peace Initiatives
Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) will be the recipient of a grant renewal from the NFL, furthering the organization’s mission to help reduce gun violence across Chicago.
The league’s Inspire Change social justice initiative was developed to support nonprofit organizations around the country that are creating measurable change and enacting positive outcomes in their communities. These grants are awarded under the pillars of education, economic advancement, community-police relations, and criminal justice reform.
Grant renewals were awarded to ten organizations and the collective financial commitment totals more than $4 million.
“Thank you for the continued support of the NFL Inspire Change initiative,” said MPI Executive Director Vaughn Bryant. “As leaders in the community violence intervention (CVI) field, this funding allowed our Metropolitan Peace Academy to create a cross training that codifies our professional understanding with the Chicago Police Department. The continued support enables the build out of other parts of the CVI ecosystem: workforce development, reentry and housing. Together, we can ‘inspire positive change’ and reduce gun violence in our city.”
NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson added, “Through the NFL’s Inspire Change social justice initiative, the league is proud to continue our partnership with these 10 outstanding organizations working to enact positive social change. Advancing social justice is a journey that requires consistent attention and support, and we are committed to leveraging the collective resources of the NFL family to uplift underserved communities and foster a more equitable future for all.”
MPI convenes 13 organizations through Communities Partnering 4 Peace, a coalition dedicated to helping heal Chicago’s communities experiencing the highest levels of gun violence. Services include street outreach, behavioral health, victim services, legal aid, and workforce development.