Cohort 5

Participating Localities

Innovation Fund Grantees

Juan Avila – Bakersfield, CA: Career Pathways for Community Violence Intervention Staff

This project establishes a structured workforce development model for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) frontline staff in Kern County. Designed to address workforce instability caused by inconsistent funding, the initiative provides individualized career planning, mentorship, training, certifications, and cross-sector skill development. By creating clear advancement pathways within and beyond CVI, the project seeks to improve staff retention, economic mobility, and long-term workforce sustainability while strengthening violence intervention efforts in communities most impacted by violence.

Angelica Hardy – Chicago, IL: Restorative Roots Network Transitional Housing Initiative

Created to support unhoused survivors of gun violence in Chicago, the Restorative Roots Network provides safe transitional housing paired with comprehensive wraparound services after hospital discharge. Participants receive in-house medical care, mental health support, case management, legal assistance, workforce development, and pathways to permanent housing or relocation. By addressing both recovery and long-term stability, the initiative aims to reduce revictimization, improve healing outcomes, and strengthen community safety.

Julia Irving – Washington, DC: Wakanda

Housing instability is a critical but often overlooked driver of community violence in Washington, DC, particularly for young Black men, survivors of violence, and families navigating trauma and displacement. This project proposes a housing-based violence intervention model through the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) that provides safe, transitional housing paired with wraparound supports including cognitive behavioral intervention, counseling, job readiness, and strategic relocation services. By treating housing stability as a core violence prevention strategy rather than a parallel social service, the project aims to reduce retaliation, support healing, interrupt cycles of trauma, and create safer pathways for individuals and families most impacted by violence.

Kenneth Thompson – Philadelphia, PA: Playing it Safe in the 8th

Playing It Safe in the 8th is a district-based violence prevention initiative designed to strengthen youth-serving organizations across Philadelphia’s 8th Council District. Using coordinated funding, CVI training, and shared communication systems, the project places community organizations in recreation centers to expand safe programming and increase collaboration. By activating trusted neighborhood spaces and aligning existing resources, the initiative aims to reduce violence, improve youth engagement, and build a sustainable prevention ecosystem.