The Alumni Dispatch – This Didn’t Happen Overnight: Three CVILA Alumni Reflect on Chicago’s Progress

Since graduating from CVILA, they have grown their impact—scaling initiatives, planning for national reach, and centering survivor support, workforce wellness, and economic opportunity in the communities they serve.

Pamela Montgomery-Bosley (Cohort 4) serves as Executive Director of the St. Sabina Violence Prevention Center in Auburn Gresham and Purpose Over Pain, which supports families across the Chicagoland area and south suburbs.

Edwin Galletti (Cohort 1) is the Vice President of Violence Intervention and Prevention at UCAN, leading efforts across 17 communities throughout Chicagoland.

Guillermo Gutierrez (Cohort 3) is the Street Intervention Manager at Enlace Chicago in Little Village.

Here are some of the highlights from their interview.

What does your work look like right now, and what’s keeping you going?

Guillermo: In 2025, violence went down 40% in Little Village, which was a huge accomplishment and something we were recognized for by the city. That keeps me afloat within all the madness. This year started off rocky – we already had a few deaths as early as January 1st – but knowing that the work is meaningful and impactful is what keeps me going.

Edwin: I lead a large department at UCAN that integrates youth development, workforce development, and community violence intervention into one system. We are supported by city, state, and government grants, as well as philanthropic support, with more than 200 staff across outreach, victim advocacy, and case management, operating in 17 communities. What keeps me energized is that we focus on building systems, not just programs. We’re seeing real impact – about 78% of participants are working or in school, with over 1,400 people in care.

Pam: I work with Purpose Over Pain, which supports families whose loved ones have been taken by violence. We provide support groups, mentoring, and help families navigate things like victim compensation and funeral arrangements. We now have groups for mothers, fathers, and siblings, because siblings are often overlooked. Everyone in our office has lived experience, so when families come to us, they’re met by people who understand. That’s what keeps me going.

Since graduating from CVILA, how has your approach to the work evolved?

Guillermo: I’ve brought back lessons from cities like Baltimore and Newark – seeing their data and strategies firsthand helped me think differently. I’ve also focused more on staff support. We use restorative justice circles in meetings, where we check in personally and professionally and create space to process what people are going through. That’s been a big shift in how I lead.

Edwin:  Since graduating from CVILA, I’ve led the expansion of UCAN’s violence prevention and intervention work—opening new offices, launching reentry centers, and securing a major statewide initiative supporting hundreds of organizations across Illinois. This growth has been driven by a shift toward systems-level thinking, with a focus on scaling impact, building replicable models, using data to demonstrate outcomes, and investing in staff and workforce wellness.

Pam: CVILA helped me build relationships and understand that we don’t have to do this work alone. It also helped me trust my staff more and manage my time better. I used to feel like I had to do everything myself, but now I lean on my team and partnerships more. It helped me grow as a leader.

What is one outcome from your work since graduation that you’re especially proud of?

Guillermo: Beyond the reduction in violence, I’m proud of my team’s growth. I’ve supported staff in earning degrees, completing fellowships, and getting recognized for their work. It’s hard for outreach workers to move up, so I push for any opportunity that helps them grow.

Edwin: My capstone was a strategic plan, and I used it as a roadmap. Since then, we’ve opened new offices, launched reentry centers, expanded to 17 communities, and secured a major initiative supporting hundreds of organizations across Illinois. We now have over 1,400 people in care, with about 75% working or in school, and over 99% not re-arrested or victimized last year.

Pam: My capstone focused on creating a survivor hotline, and I’m actively working on it now. CVILA helped me think more deeply about how to build it. When my son was killed, there were no resources like this, so now I’m working to create something that supports survivors who don’t know where to turn.

What makes Chicago’s CVI ecosystem unique, and what can other cities learn?

Guillermo: When I first started, intervention wasn’t taken seriously. Now there’s real buy-in—from institutions, politicians, communities, and high-risk individuals. We collaborate regularly with partners, police, and the city to respond to violence and problem-solve together. This didn’t happen overnight; it took years of commitment to build this ecosystem.

Edwin: Chicago stands out because it’s a coordinated ecosystem – shared strategies, aligned funding, and strong partnerships across organizations and institutions. We also have researchers and evaluators helping strengthen the work, and outreach workers and victim advocates are being recognized as essential. It’s not just investment, it’s infrastructure.

Pam: It’s the relationships. Even though Chicago can feel divided, in this work we are connected. We work with hospitals, law enforcement, community organizations, and legislators, and we advocate together. And in Chicago, survivors are included. We’re not just being supported – we’re on the ground doing the work and helping stop violence.

Where should the field invest next, and what is the most urgent priority?

Guillermo: We need to invest in staff wellness. Outreach workers are first responders, but they’re not treated like it. They carry trauma, and if we don’t support them, it impacts everything. If we take care of the workforce, the outcomes will follow.

Edwin: Don’t defund our success. The reductions we’re seeing are the result of years of investment. This work doesn’t end – you have to sustain it. We also need more investment in workforce development, case management, and housing. If you want to reduce violence, you have to address poverty.

Pam: We need more investment in mental health and survivor support. Families are dealing with trauma every day, and there aren’t enough free resources for counseling. Funding is being cut, and families are struggling with basic costs like funerals. Survivors also need to be at the table – we’re closest to the problem and the solution.