City of Detroit selects 6 organizations for neighborhood initiative to reduce violence
(CBS DETROIT) - The city of Detroit announced that six community-based organizations were selected to conduct community violence intervention (CVI).
"They know the pain that the folks in these neighborhoods are feeling. They know what's driving the anger. They know what's driving the shootings. And if there's anybody who can reach the hearts of our residents, I think it is these six groups," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
The organizations are tasked with reducing violence in a 3.5 to 4.5 square mile area, using prevention strategies, according to a press release.
The initiative, which is through the new ShotStoppers program, is funded by the American Rescue Plan.
The following six organizations have been selected:
- Detroit Peoples Community
- Detroit 300
- New Era Community Connection
- Force Detroit
- Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, Denby Neighborhood Alliance, and Camp Restore
- Detroit Friends and Family
"This is the first time that I've experienced government and the streets working together in lockstep to reduce violence," said Ray Winans, the CEO and founder of Detroit Friends and Family. "Go back into the neighborhood where you have the most power and influence, and leverage that."
Winans said their group has a prevention and intervention strategy. They'll focus on mentoring, transportation support, and working with families in a multi-generational model to prevent violence. And if violence does happen, they are so deeply embedded in their community that they can be there for support.
"Just knowing that hey, this is the guy that I see in the neighborhood. These are guys that have been to prison, these are guys that worked with my brothers and them. And we're just sending a simple message, here's an opportunity for you to get out of that life," she said.
Each group will receive a quarterly base budget of $175,000 to complete their prevention strategy. They will receive an additional $87,500 if their efforts reduce serious violence by 10 percentage points more than the city. An additional $175,000 will be distributed if they outperform the rest of the city by 20 percentage points.
"Now it is so variable," said Duggan. "You have one shooting at one block party, and your quarterly number can slip away pretty easily. But if these groups can beat the city average one or two quarters a month, it will be a great thing for the quality of life for the community.
The groups say much of their advocacy work isn't new, but this major financial support is.
"If we have the resources to do that, we're not waiting on the city to come out and do it for us," said Sandra Turner-Handy, the lead of the Denby Neighborhood Alliance. "We have to teach our young people and our residents that crime is not normal. Living in crime is not normal. When you hear gunshots and it don't bother you, that's not normal behavior."
She said their group will work on education, as well as removing blight and boarding up vacant houses.
"Getting our residents to invest in real radio patrols on the ground, getting them invested in we have a lot of vacant land. Getting them invested in adopting lots to make sure there's no illegal dumping," said Turner-Handy.
Contracts with the groups will be submitted to the Detroit City Council this week. The initiative is expected to begin on July 1, and the organizations will have one month before the city measures their performances on Aug. 1. To measure the success of the programs, the city will be comparing the homicide and shooting rates of each quarter to the rates from the year before.
"This community-led approach provides a holistic solution to the complex issue of gun violence and its root causes," Council President Mary Sheffield said in a statement. "These grassroots organizations are best equipped to help prevent gun violence because they understand the needs and the challenges faced by our communities in a way that nobody else can. They have the trust of the people, and they know how to work with them to create meaningful change."
Officials say the city intended to select three to five groups, but the "strong" proposals from all six organizations prompted Duggan to seek expansion on the program. The groups were selected out of 25 applications.
Each group proposed a specific area, or CVI zone, and the tactics they plan to utilize.
"Gun violence is a major public health concern, and we are turning our collective pain into action by investing funds and other resources within our community to reverse the root causes of the violence we are experiencing," Council President Pro Tem James Tate said in a statement. "Members of our community who have lived experience have the expertise, credibility, and relationships within our neighborhoods to reach those most vulnerable to committing these types of violent crimes. I look forward to seeing what these organizations do with proper funding and strategy."