Our Approach
The Problem
Cities across the country struggle with chronic violence concentrated in small pockets.
City neighborhoods containing just 1.5% of the US population experience 26% of all gun homicides. And despite being 15 times more likely to be victimized than those living in wealthier areas, residents of these communities are three times less likely to have access to help recovering from violence.
Local public officials — alongside police chiefs facing officer shortages — are looking for new solutions.
The Opportunity
City leaders are increasingly embracing a range of community programs that alleviate crises and train residents to help those who are most vulnerable:
- Community violence interrupters (CVI) train residents in conflict mediation to reduce street violence.
- Trauma recovery centers utilize peer advocates to prevent victim re-injury.
- Reentry programs enlist peer navigators to reduce recidivism.
- Mental health response programs train peer health workers to help people in crisis.
The Opportunity
Scaling for Impact
When these programs are embraced, they work.
Newark, New Jersey — previously one of the 10 most violent cities in the US — reduced homicides by 50% in five years after local leaders launched the Newark Community Street Team (NCST), training residents to serve as conflict mediators, peer counselors, and victim advocates. After violence reached a 60-year low, the police chief said, “[NCST’s] work fills a void that cannot be filled by the police department.”
"Public safety is strongest when it is community-led. Healing, trust, and accountability are the tools that reduce violence and create peace that no system alone can deliver.”
Renaldo Chavis
Executive Director of the Newark Community Street Team
Our Solution
Two nationally recognized organizations have teamed up to launch Scaling Safety.
The Community Based Public Safety Collective, the nation’s premier community violence interruption technical assistance provider, born out of Newark’s efforts, has joined forces with the Alliance for Safety and Justice, a national advocacy organization with extensive experience unlocking public dollars and eliminating policy barriers for new safety solutions.
Together, we have over 15 years of experience pioneering new approaches to public safety. Since launching, the Community Based Public Safety Collective has provided technical assistance to over 150 organizations across 60 cities, including Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where their support helped reduce violence by 25%. Alliance for Safety and Justice has won 150 policy reforms to support victims of violence, established 54 trauma recovery centers across the US and unlocked more than $3.5 billion in public funding for community safety programs.
The Community Based Public Safety Collective knows how to build resident-based safety strategies in neighborhoods and Alliance for Safety and Justice knows how to forge relationships with the public sector and move money. Together, we are working to grow a whole new workforce of resident-powered prevention programs that can complement law enforcement and stop cycles of harm. Together we are Scaling Safety.