‘You’re Retraumatizing People’: MPI Executive Director Vaughn Bryant Speaks Out Against Federal Grant Cuts
The Chicago Tribune featured Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) organization Think Outside Da Block (TODB) as they responded to news that nearly $4 million in federal grants were canceled by the U.S. Department of Justice last April. For the organization, this meant immediate impacts including layoffs, but it could mean more devastating impacts for the city of Chicago as the summer approaches.
Several weeks have passed since the announcement of the cancellation of millions of dollars in federal grants to Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations nationwide. Financial stability is especially urgent, says Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) Executive Director Vaughn Bryant. “Continuity of services matters,” he said. “You’re retraumatizing people.”
Think Outside Da Block founder Pha’tal Perkins also spoke to the potential effects on laid-off outreach workers, many of whom are formerly incarcerated or struggle to find sustainable employment. “Does this mean that if it gets too hard, they might go back to living the street lifestyle, or go back to what they knew previously?” he asked.