Press Clips

Here’s how we’re making headlines across the city.

For all media requests, please contact:

Julia Dake
Public Relations Manager
dakej@metrofamily.org

PRESS CLIPS

As Trump Pushes for Troops in Chicago, City Leaders Say His Cuts Could Fuel Crime

Publication: The Trace
Date: August 29, 2025
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Johnson and Pritzker Call Trump’s Threat To Send National Guard to Chicago Illegal

Publication: CBS News Chicago
Date: August 27, 2025
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Greg Hinz: Violent crime is falling in Chicago. But will it last?

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: July 30, 2025
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Opinion: Measuring Chicago’s public safety impact through a business lens

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: July 24, 2025
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How Chicagoans are working to lower homicide, shooting numbers

Publication: WBEZ
Date: July 22, 2025
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Violence prevention efforts set to expand in Chicago amid decline in shootings, murders

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: July 15, 2025
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City leaders: Chicago’s SC2 initiative shows promising results reducing gun violence in year one

Publication: WGN-TV
Date: July 15, 2025
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Chicago’s July Fourth Weekend Shootings Plummeted. Residents Are Cautiously Optimistic.

Publication: The Trace
Date: July 9, 2025
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Illinois Peace Project Debuts the 2025 ‘Peace Portraits’ Honorees

Publication: The Citizen Newspaper Group
Date: June 25, 2025
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Why is Chicago Violence Plummeting? Some Credit Street Outreach Workers.

Publication: WBEZ Chicago
Date: June 6, 2025
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Chicago Sports Franchises Come Together to Address Gun Violence for Eighth Consecutive Year

Publication: Chicago Crusader
Date: June 5, 2025
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Vaughn Bryant | Notable Leaders in Philanthropy

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: June 2, 2025
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Chicago Sees Least Violent Memorial Day Weekend in At Least 16 Years

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: May 27, 2025
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U.S. Department of Justice Funding Cuts Hit Chicago Anti-Violence Program

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: May 27, 2025
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Jobs. Block Clubs. Investment: How Chicagoans Are Interrupting Violence at its Roots

Publication: South Side Weekly
Date: May 27, 2025
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Memorial Day and Summer Will Test City’s Momentum on Crime Rates

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: May 24, 2025
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Chicago’s Summer Safety Plan Focuses on Weekend Nights, Teen Gatherings

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: May 23, 2025
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NFL Reaffirms Support for Organizations Driving Local and National Impact

Publication: NFL Media
Date: May 22, 2025
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‘There Are No Places for Us to Just Be Free’

Publication: The Triibe
Date: May 18, 2025
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Chicago Has Seen Significant Gun Violence Declines Under ‘Peacekeepers’ Program, New Study Finds

Publication: WTTW
Date: April 17, 2025
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Programs Credited with Reduction in Chicago Gun Violence

Publication: WGN TV
Date: April 17, 2025
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Leaders Celebrate Reductions in Gun Violence

Publication: WAND TV
Date: April 17, 2025
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Pritzker, Johnson say Peacekeeper Program Helped Reduce Gun Violence in Chicago

Publication: ABC-7 Chicago
Date: April 17, 2025
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City Club Of Chicago: Reducing Gun Violence – How the Community and Police Are Working Together

Publication: WGN Radio
Date: April 16, 2025
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Teens At Hyde Park ‘Takeover’ Say They’re Just Hanging With Friends — But 4 Arrested In Scuffles

Publication: Block Club Chicago
Date: April 13, 2025
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Project H.O.O.D. to Ring the Opening Bell at New York Stock Exchange This Friday, April 11, 2025

Publication: The Chicagoland Journal
Date: April 9, 2025
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The Opportunity for Service and to Create Systemic Change

Publication: Harvard Business School
Date: February 20, 2025
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Community Violence Intervention Saves Lives. Keep Funding It for Public Safety’s Sake.

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: February 14, 2025
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Stopping Gun Violence: Professor Andrew Papachristos Uses Network Science to Curb Gun Violence

Publication: Northwestern Magazine
Date: January 6, 2025
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Musician Vic Mensa Headlines Metropolitan Peace Academy Community Violence Intervention Graduation

Publication: Lawndale News
Date: January 2, 2025
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Vic Mensa Honors Fall 2024 Metropolitan Peace Academy Graduates

Publication: Chicago Defender
Date: December 29, 2024
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Metropolitan Peace Academy Holds Graduation for Violence Prevention Specialists: Interview with Steve Perkins

Publication: WBEZ Radio
Date: December 19, 2024
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It Takes a Team: Rome Odunze x Metropolitan Family Services

Publication: NFL
Date: December 12, 2024
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Opinion: Smart Investments in Public Safety are Beginning to Pay Off.

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: December 4, 2024
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Chicago Gun Violence Prevention Groups Hold March to the Polls

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: October 23, 2024
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Aiming for More: Groups Working in Chicago’s Most Violent Neighborhoods Try to Reach People Early On

Publication: Chicago Health
Date: October 12, 2024
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Garien Gatewood: Progress is Being Made on Reducing Gun Violence in Chicago

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: October 8, 2024
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At the Community Level, Violence Intervention Gains Credibility — and Dollars Follow

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: September 23, 2024
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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 16: Working Collaboratively to Address Community Safety

Publication: The Chicago Community Trust
Date: September 12, 2024
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We Can Do More to Stop Gun Violence, With More Support for Community Intervention

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: September 6, 2024
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After a Shooting, Community and Health Leaders Step Up to Help Survivors Heal

Publication: The TRiiBE
Date: July 23, 2024
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13 Black-led Organizations That Assist Chicagoans Experiencing Intracommunity Violence

Publication: The TRiiBE
Date: July 16, 2024
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Private Donors Reach $100M Funding Goal for Violence Prevention

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: July 10, 2024
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Chicago Prepares for 4th of July Festivities Across the City

Publication: Fox 32 Chicago
Date: July 3, 2024
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Communities Aim To Serve More People at Highest Risk for Impact from Gun Violence

Publication: The Citizen Newspaper Group
Date: June 26, 2024
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Chicago Activists React After U.S. Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis

Publication: NBC Chicago
Date: June 25, 2024
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Violence Intervention at Street Level Getting Funding Boost in ‘Unique Moment’ for Chicago

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: June 17, 2024
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Violence Prevention Programs to Expand in 4 West Side Neighborhoods as Businesses Near $100M Funding Goal

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: June 17, 2024
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Chicago Violence Interrupter Programs Scale up as Summer Shootings Heat Up

Publication: ABC 7 Chicago
Date: June 17, 2024
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Chicago Violence Prevention Workers Set Lofty Goals With Increased Funding

Publication: FOX 32 Chicago
Date: June 17, 2024
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Violence Intervention Groups Expanding, With Help From Private and Public Funds

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: June 17, 2024
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Anti-Violence Groups Look to Empower Chicago’s Youth to Become Leaders

Publication: WTTW
Date: April 24, 2024
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Chicago Opens ‘Emergency Assistance Center’ to Help Crime Victims After Back of the Yards Mass Shooting

Publication: Fox 32 Chicago
Date: April 17, 2024
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‘We Want the Violence to Stop’: Dozens of Residents March for Peace on Chicago’s West Side

Publication: NBC 5 Chicago
Date: April 13, 2024
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Tio “Mr. CeaseFire” Hardiman Holds CeaseFire Reunion of Nonviolence Activists Who Have Helped Make Positive Change in the Public Health Epidemic of Violence

Publication: The Southland Journal
Date: April 7, 2024
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Attorney General Merrick Garland Announces $78 Million for Violence Prevention

Publication: CBS News
Date: April 3, 2024
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SWOP and CCJF Commit to Carry Out in Chicago Early Intervention in Communities at High-Risk of Violence

Publication: La Raza
Date: March 26, 2024
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Breakthrough Provides Range of Services for Families on Chicago’s West Side

Publication: CBS 2 Chicago
Date: March 22, 2024
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Enlace Chicago: Social Fighters Preventing Violence and Opening Opportunities for Social Reintegration

Publication: La Raza
Date: March 21, 2024
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Jailhouse Religion

Publication: South Side Weekly
Date: March 18, 2024
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Golden Moments to Save Lives and Curb Violence in Chicago

Publication: La Raza
Date: March 12, 2024
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‘Less Than a Person’: Formerly Incarcerated People Say System Needs Healing

Publication: National Catholic Reporter
Date: February 28, 2024
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Charges Announced in Teen Takeover of Chicago’s South Loop

Publication: CBS 2 Chicago
Date: March 4, 2024
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Shero Program From Social Services Agency UCAN Chicago Helps Heal Women Most at Risk for Violence

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: February 16, 2024
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Chicago Program Aids Former Inmates in Rebuilding Lives After Prison

Publication: Fox Chicago 32
Date: February 8, 2024
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Metropolitan Peace Academy Looks To Expand Work With New Training Facility

Publication: The Citizen Newspaper
Date: February 7, 2024
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Ex-Chicago Gang Leader’s Third Chance Gets Him an Invitation to the White House

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: February 2, 2024
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Ambitious Plan Aims to Raise $400 Million to Halve Chicago Shootings, Homicides in 5 Years

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: February 1, 2024
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Foundations, Business Interests Raise $66 Million to Fight Crime in Chicago

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: February 1, 2024
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Chicago Radically Expanding Anti-violence Program to 6 More Neighborhoods

Publication: ABC 7
Date: February 1, 2024
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City Leaders Announce New Plan to Reduce Gun Violence in Chicago

Publication: WGN TV
Date: February 1, 2024
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New Anti-Violence Initiative Aims to Reduce Chicago Shootings by 50% in 5 Years

Publication: WTTW
Date: February 1, 2024
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Gov. Pritzker Unveils Anti-violence Initiative

Publication: WGEM
Date: February 1, 2024
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Illinois Democrats Introduce Gun Violence Prevention Program

Publication: The Center Square
Date: February 1, 2024
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How Donor-Advised Funds Are Changing Philanthropy

Publication: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Date: January 16, 2024
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Chicago Homicides See 13% Decrease in 2023, Crime Data Shows

Publication: ABC 7
Date: December 29, 2023
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Debunking CVI Myths: CVI Is Only Street Outreach

Publication: The Center for American Progress
Date: December 21, 2023
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First Class Graduates From CPS Program for Students Who Dropped Out During COVID Pandemic

Publication: ABC 7
Date: December 21, 2023
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Bo Deal Learned All He Could From Life in the Streets — Then Got a College Degree

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: December 20, 2023
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Commentary: Where Poverty Is Pervasive, Solutions Must Be Radical and Relentless

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: December 19, 2023
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Vaughn Bryant and Arne Duncan: Violence Prevention Work Is Reducing Shootings in Chicago. Let’s Scale It.

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: December 17, 2023
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Chicago’s Experiment to Aid Gun Violence Survivors Is Actually Helping

Publication: The Trace
Date: December 15, 2023
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Chicago Seeing a Drop in Homicides as 2023 Nears End, but Not in Every Neighborhood

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: December 3, 2023
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S enate Committee Evaluates Gun Violence as Health Crisis

Publication: WMAQ 5 Chicago
Date: November 28, 2023
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U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin leads Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Gun Violence Crisis

Publication: CBS 2 Chicago
Date: November 28, 2023
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Pastor Brooks Hopes to Raise $10M for South Side Community Center

Publication: ABC 7
Date: November 28, 2023
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Amid the City’s Mass Shootings, Community Groups Work to Prevent More Bloodshed

Publication: Austin Weekly News
Date: November 6, 2023
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Former West Garfield Park Gang Member Works to Pull Others Out of Isolation

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: November 3, 2023
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City Club of Chicago: Community Violence Intervention

Publication: WGN Radio 720
Date: November 1, 2023
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Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Is Working to Reduce Crime in Chicago

Publication: the Grio
Date: October 5, 2023
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Chicago Youth Programs Often End with the Summer. Young People Want More.

Publication: The Trace
Date: September 6, 2023
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At Summer’s End, Chicago Murders Are Down 21% from Horrendous 2021

Publication: WBEZ
Date: September 1, 2023
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The Peacemaker: The Man Turning Stats Into Violence Prevention

Publication: Chicago Magazine
Date: August 21, 2023
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Gang Conflict Causing Uptown Violence as Police, Community Groups Look to Intervene

Publication: Block Club Chicago
Date: August 1, 2023
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Chicago Street Outreach Workers Use Own Experiences to Reach Others in Their Neighborhoods

Publication: WTTW
Date: July 31, 2023
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Collaborative, Community Based Violence Prevention Efforts Aims to Professionalize the Field of Street Outreach

Publication: WTTW
Date: July 27, 2023
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‘Light in the Night’ Events Aim to Reclaim Safe Public Space for Chicagoans

Publication: WTTW
Date: July 17, 2023
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Vaughn Bryant: What is Community Violence Intervention?

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: July 16, 2023
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Andrew Papachristos: Targeted Violence Prevention Is Working in Chicago. Workers Need to Reach More People.

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: July 16, 2023
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Leaders of Chicago’s Violence Prevention Movement Weigh in on Summer Violence

Publication: WBEZ
Date: July 5, 2023
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How This Man Helped Prevent a Revenge Murder

Publication: BBC
Date: June 29, 2023
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Justice Department Officials Take Interest In, Praise Chicago Anti-Violence Program

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: June 8, 2023
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New Mayor, Same Struggle with Chicago Crime as Anti-Violence Activists Work on the Ground

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: June 2, 2023
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From Chess Tournaments to Mentorship Programs: How Far North Side Groups Plan to Prevent Violence This Summer

Publication: Block Club Chicago
Date: May 25, 2023
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Here’s How the City Council Can Lead the Response to Chicago’s Most Urgent Challenges

Publication: Crain’s Chicago Business
Date: May 8, 2023
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Winners: 3 Organizations Making the Greatest Impact in Violence Interruption and Prevention in Chicago

Publication: Better
Date: April 17, 2023
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Solutions to Chicago Gun Violence That Go Beyond Policing

Publication: WBEZ
Date: April 3, 2023
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Anti-violence Advocates Pinpoint Issues to Reduce Violence Following Deadly 2021 with Nearly 800 People Killed

Publication: Atlanta Black Star
Date: January 18, 2023
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VIDEOS

Johnson and Pritzker Call Trump’s Threat To Send National Guard to Chicago Illegal – CBS News Chicago
August 22, 2025

With Shootings and Homicides Down in Chicago, Advocates Say There’s Still Work to Be Done – WTTW
July 28, 2025

Leaders mark 1 year of Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago program – ABC 7 Chicago
July 15, 2025

Officials, advocates tout success of crime disruption programs – CBS Chicago
July 15, 2025

Chicago aims to reduce violent crime by 50% in the next five years – FOX 32 Chicago
July 15, 2025

CPD, Mayor Lay Out July 4 Weekend Safety Plan After Downtown Shooting – ABC 7 Chicago
July 3, 2025

How Chicago’s sports teams are coming together to address gun violence – FOX 32 Chicago
June 13, 2025

Metropolitan Peace Initiative Crisis Response Team Helps Teens Manage Conflict During ‘Trend Season’ – CBS Chicago
May 29, 2025

Our Chicago: DOJ terminates grants to violence prevention organizations – ABC 7 Chicago
May 11, 2025

Community violence intervention grants terminated by federal government – NBC Chicago
May 4, 2025

Justice Department cuts $3.7 million in grants for Chicago violence prevention groups – CBS Chicago
May 2, 2025

Justice Dept. cuts grants as Chicago tries to tamp down violence – NewsNation
April 24, 2025

Community leaders in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood call for end to violence after teen is shot dead – CBS News
April 21, 2025

Programs credited with reduction in Chicago gun violence – WGN
April 17, 2025

Chicago touts study showing violence reduction through ‘peacekeepers’ – FOX 32 Chicago
April 17, 2025

Northwestern study shows success of Peacekeepers Program in Chicago area – CBS News
April 17, 2025

Pritzker, Johnson say Peacekeeper Program helped drop gun violence – ABC7 Chicago
April 17, 2025

Reducing Gun Violence: How the Community and Police are Working Together – City Club of Chicago
April 15, 2025

CPRU Team Responds to ‘Teen Trends’ – WGN-TV
April 11, 2025

2025 Civic Catalyst Award – Leadership Greater Chicago
April 11, 2025

Giffords Center for Violence Intervention Webinar
March 20, 2025

Friends of the Children Webinar
March 18, 2025

Fathers Who Care – CAN-TV
March 13, 2025

Healthy Chicago Podcast – Building Safer Communities
March 12, 2025

Press Clips

Here’s how we’re making headlines across the city.

PRESS CLIPS

The Peacemaker: The Man Turning Stats Into Violence Prevention

Andrew Papachristos: Targeted Violence Prevention Is Working in Chicago. Workers Need to Reach More People.

VIDEOS

MORE VIDEOS

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