Cohort 1
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The inaugural cohort of the CVILA is composed of 31 community violence intervention leaders representing 22 localities, which accounted for almost 20% of homicides in the U.S. in 2022.
Innovation Fund Grantees
Each cohort member designed a capstone project related to the development of a gun violence reduction program or innovation. Each project was created with feedback from a team of advisors, and students defended their work before a panel to complete the program.
An “innovation fund” created by the University of Chicago and the Casey Foundation granted eight exceptional projects seed funding for additional consultation, implementation or evaluation:
- GID University is a workforce development program designed by Rasheedat Fetuga (Nashville, TN). It equips north Nashville youth most at risk for gun violence involvement with the skills to lead public safety change, gun violence prevention and community transformation.
- Voices of Power, an initiative founded by De’Angelo Harris-Rosa (Philadelphia, PA), advances public education and discourse around CVI. It includes a radio show and streaming video podcast with leaders in the field.
- The Red Light Initiative, a transformative justice framework developed by Jovan Davis (Washington, D.C.), addresses the root causes of the emotional pain that can lead to gun violence.
- 4 Social Peace is an initiative founded by Patrick Young (New Orleans, LA). It develops interventions that dismantle aggression and foster a positive online environment through a comprehensive and integrated digital community violence intervention strategy.
- CTVIP Multi-Tiered Data Management System, a performance monitoring tool developed by Alivia Langley (New Haven, CT), tracks resource utilization and participant outcomes.
- CHVPS Employee Mental Health & Wellness Policy, a framework created by Guadalupe Washington (Harris Co., TX), promotes a positive environment that supports mental health and well-being for community health and violence prevention staff and those they serve.
- SWOT Analysis of UCAN Chicago’s Violence Intervention and Prevention is a community-based violence intervention and prevention program created by Edwin Galletti (Chicago, IL). It reduces individual youth participation in crime and violence, addresses trauma, improves academic engagement and success and meets youth development needs through coaching and mediation.
- Operation RESPOND Expansion is a mobile crisis management intervention unit built by Dante Johnson (Baltimore, MD). It targets individuals and families who are impacted by gun violence and provides them with support services and workforce development opportunities. Johnson also served as one of the Cohort 1 commencement speakers.
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Latest Updates
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.
![Vice President Kamala Harris takes a group photo with graduates of the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy Graduation,](https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/V20240209LJ-0227-scaled-e1717533005852-1024x642.jpg)
Force Detroit member honored at the White House
Fox 2 Detroit’s Marielle Lue sits down with CVILA graduate Zoe Kennedy to discuss his visit to the White House as a part of the graduation of the CVILA’s inaugural cohort. Kennedy is the Public Health & Safety Director of Force Detroit.
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Advocate, activist and healer: Myesha Watkins is trying to make Cleveland safer
Cleveland.com’s Molly Walsh highlights CVILA graduate Myesha Watkins’ visit to the White House as a part of the graduation of the CVILA’s inaugural cohort. Watkins is the executive director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, a crime prevention organization that focuses on helping communities become healthier environments to reduce violence.
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