City Leaders Launch $750K Crime Reduction Initiative

Originally developed under the name “Cease Fire” in Chicago in 2000, the Cure Violence Model was launched in the city’s most violent community at the time. CeaseFire produced a 67 percent reduction in shootings in its first year. A three-year review by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2009 found that it had reduced shootings from 34 percent to 16 percent and eliminated retaliatory murders resulting from increased use of public education slogans — such as “Don’t shoot. I want to grow up.” — and conflict mediation and community mobilization.

CeaseFire was reorganized and changed its name to Cure Violence in September 2012. The original non violent movement known to better communities has been making its rounds throughout the country changing the landscape of America reducing violence wherever it lands. In December, 2015, Cure Violence has 23 cities implementing the Cure Violence health approach in over 50 sites in the U.S. International program partner sites are operating in Trinidad, Honduras, Mexico, South Africa, Canada and Colombia.

The city hopes to bring some of that same gold here battling the startling statistic that Jacksonville’s crime rate is 51 percent higher than the national average. In 2019 alone there have already been 52 murders committed. Jacksonville City Council voted to give the Chicago-based nonprofit nearly $750,000 in April. The funding will cover the group’s first year and part of its second year. Its Jacksonville launch was celebrated in Northwest Jacksonville last weekend at the Northwest Jacksonville Commun-ity Development Corporation’s annual Health and Neighborhoods Day on Moncrief Road. Now in its second year, the day was a fun filled day of community resources including free health screenings, door prizes, a free legal clinic, food, fun and games, music and food giveaways.

On the First Coast, the cure violence initiative will be identified as “Bridging the Cure”

 

 

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *