2025 CVI Leadership Academy Celebration and Graduation
The CVI Leadership Academy hosted the graduation of its third cohort and a celebration of the field in Miami, Florida.
The celebration brought together over 150 public safety leaders, academy supporters, and CVI experts from across the country to raise vital funds to sustain this work. We honored local and national leaders, enjoyed live entertainment, and celebrated progress in reducing gun violence nationwide.
At the graduation the next day, we were honored to share congratulatory video messages from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos, NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning, Common, and DJ Khaled. We also premiered a video featuring the voices of the the 31 students from 23 cities across the country, and received proclamations from both the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County recognizing the work and accomplishments of our graduates. And in a deeply moving and unexpected moment, the cohort made a surprise donation to support future cohorts and alumni programming—a powerful gesture of leadership and legacy.
The ceremony also included remarks from the following individuals:
- Founding Executive Director Roseanna Ander, Crime Lab
- CVILA Program Manager Alesisia Cobb, Crime Lab
- CVILA Executive Director Dr. Chico Tillmon, Crime Lab
- Former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx
- CVILA Graduate Courtney Scott – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- CVILA Graduate Darryl Chambers – Wilmington, Delaware
We are immensely grateful to our generous sponsors for making this week’s events possible: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Community Justice, Everytown, and Fund for a Safer Future.
Hear from Cohort 3 participants about their experience in the CVI Leadership Academy.
Watch a compilation of video messages congratulating the graduates of the third cohort.
CVILA Legacy Pioneer Award Honorees
Erica Ford
Recognized for her unwavering dedication to the field of CVI, Erica Ford is celebrated as a visionary leader, professional, and practitioner. Her lifelong commitment has significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of CVI, inspiring countless individuals in the community.
Timmeka Perkins
Timmeka Perkins is honored with the Legacy Pioneer Award for her exceptional philanthropic efforts in the field of CVI. As a visionary and dedicated professional, she has made substantial contributions that support and uplift those affected by CVI, showcasing her deep commitment to advocacy and community engagement.
Amber Goodwin
Amber Goodwin receives the Legacy Pioneer Award for her lifelong dedication to CVI. As both a visionary and an experienced practitioner, she has played a pivotal role in advancing practices and initiatives that benefit individuals with CVI, making a lasting impact on the field.
Dr. Shani Buggs
Dr. Shani Buggs is awarded the Legacy Pioneer Award for her extensive research contributions to the field of CVI. As a dedicated professional and visionary, her work has not only advanced scientific understanding but also improved the lives of those affected by CVI through innovative research and discovery.
Oresa Napper-Williams
Oresa Napper-Williams has been honored with the Legacy Pioneer Award in recognition of her profound dedication to supporting survivors. Her journey embodies a divine mission. As a visionary leader and passionate advocate, Oresa relentlessly champions transformative change in the field of CVI. She tirelessly ensures that every survivor’s voice is heard and valued, empowering individuals and fostering hope and resilience among those affected by gun violence.
Learn more about the cohort
The third cohort of the CVI Leadership Academy, running from December 2024 – April 2025, is composed of 31 community violence intervention leaders representing 23 localities, which accounted for about 15% of homicides in the U.S. in 2022.
About the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy
The Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) is a first-of-its-kind education program designed to deepen the leadership and management practices of senior CVI leaders so they can effectively manage community-based organizations and implement CVI strategies at scale. Its purpose is to provide senior CVI leaders with five months of hands-on education, with the goal of achieving its two interconnected goals: reducing gun violence and scaling the CVI field. The CVILA supports participants in achieving these goals by strengthening their leadership and management skills, expanding their networks, and supporting them in their efforts to elevate and advocate for the CVI field. The curriculum combines classroom instruction with immersive learning labs. These 31 graduates represent 23 cities across the U.S.
Latest Updates
Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy Graduation of Second Cohort
The Crime Lab hosted the graduation of the second cohort of the CVI Leadership Academy, a program to educate community violence intervention leaders from across America.
Vice President Kamala Harris Recognizes the CVILA at White House Ceremony
On February 9, 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris recognized the work of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) at an event that will acknowledged the accomplishments of its inaugural cohort at the White House.
A New Way To Address Gun Violence You’ve Never Heard Of
Former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department Charlie Beck, Crime Lab Faculty Director Jens Ludwig, and CVILA Executive Director Dr. Chico Tillmon penned this Newsweek op-ed on the importance of raising awareness about community violence interventions and how they can be used to continue the gun violence reduction trends we saw in 2023.
