WATCH: Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) Celebrates Second Cohort
The University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) celebrated the graduation of its second cohort on Friday, September 20, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Thirty-one community violence intervention (CVI) leaders representing 20 cities from around the country walked across the stage, completing the five-month educational program. Established in 2023, the CVILA works to help these leaders improve the effectiveness of their respective CVI organizations and support their mission to reduce gun violence.
Among the graduates were Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Field Manager Charles Decuire and Public Equity Executive Director Tony Woods. Back in May, both expressed their desires in wanting to become more well-equipped leaders and to further their goals in making Chicago safer for all.
Guest speakers at the graduation included Community Justice Action Fund Founder Amber Goodwin, Revolve Impact Co-founder Mike de la Rocha, and Community Safety Initiatives + Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Managing Director Michael-Sean Spence.
Graduates heard additional remarks from CVILA Executive Director Dr. Chico Tillmon, Crime Lab Executive Director Roseanna Ander, and fellow CVILA graduates Alia Harvey-Quinn (FORCE Detroit Founder and Executive Director) and Ben “Taco” Owens (Urban Peace Institute CVI Instructor). Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent Cohen, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Deputy Director Greg Jackson, NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, and others also sent congratulatory video messages.
The CVILA curriculum focuses on providing training in violence reduction, program management, staff retention, data literacy, evaluation, and more.
For more information on the CVILA, visit the official page here.