Historic Moment: VP Kamala Harris will recognize Crime Lab’s CVI Leadership Academy at White House
Crime Lab reports that the CVILA will graduate at the White House and that their work will be recognized by Vice President Kamala Harris.
This Friday at the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris will recognize the work of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) at an event that will acknowledge the accomplishments of its inaugural cohort.
The newly created White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) will host the ceremony marking the conclusion of a week of awareness hosted by OGVP focused on community violence awareness and prevention. Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Assistant Attorney General Amy Solomon will also provide remarks at the event.
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The recognition of CVILA’s inaugural cohort and the week’s events focus on community violence awareness and prevention and build on the President’s Safer America Plan, which set forth an agenda to invest in public safety strategies like mental health services; victim services; and afterschool, educational, and employment programs for youth. CVI programs are an effective approach to preventing gun violence, with some behavioral science-informed CVI programs proven to reduce violence by close to 50%.
The graduates – who include CVI leaders from 21 cities across America – will draw on this world-class six-month education they received to improve their organizations and support their mission to prevent and reduce gun violence and save lives in communities of color disproportionately harmed by the direct and indirect consequences of gun violence.
The ceremony will take place from 11 AM – 1 PM CT/12 PM – 2 PM ET on Friday, February 9th at the White House.
Watch the live stream from the White House
See more information about this event on the Crime Lab website.