The intervention work championed by the Civic Coalition to Save Lives has played a pivotal role in Philadelphia’s gun violence reduction.
That was evident in the group’s presentation of its impact report this month.
“Our role in the Civic Coalition to Save Lives is to support and uplift the heroic work of our partners, whose impact is making Philadelphia’s neighborhoods stronger and safer every day,” said David Brown, executive director of the coalition.
Since launching in 2021, the Civic Coalition to Save Lives has met several of its original goals through three initiatives — the Gun Violence Coordination Center, Community Safety Civic Resource Board and Community Safety Information Campaign.
The Gun Violence Coordination Center, a 501©(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing gun violence intervention in Philadelphia, has developed an innovative housing program in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
The center also supports initiatives such as the Community Crisis Intervention Program, Group Violence Intervention, and Pushing Progress Philly, the report said.
The Community Safety Civic Resource Board was founded by the coalition to secure and distribute funding for critical intervention efforts.
The team has crafted fundraising strategies and has awarded $1.5 million to strengthen community-based intervention programs like the Hospital Violence Intervention Programs, the Trauma Intervention Programs, and city-led intervention groups to help increase their impact in the communities most affected by gun violence.
The Safety Information Campaign helps to educate people about the challenges of gun violence, and engages more than 1,500 stakeholders about how and why sustained intervention works.
The group’s report focused on economic empowerment, support networks, behavioral health, individual support and active engagement.
A list of partners in the report includes the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Community-base intervention groups have helped organizations like Black Men Heal, which offers free therapy and mental health services to men of color with culturally responsive programs like individual therapy and the “King’s Corner” weekly virtual support group.
As the city continues to see encouraging reductions in homicides, the Civic Coalition is committed to building on that momentum with bold, targeted strategies for 2025.
The coalition seeks to support the expansion of existing intervention programs by increasing collaboration and coordination with city leadership and to focus on a broader commitment to long-term, sustainable violence intervention and reduction efforts.
The coalition will continue to raise awareness, increase understanding and expand public education about effective gun violence intervention strategies.
“While we, as a united city, still face challenges ahead, our commitment to this partnership is steadfast, and the resilience and resolve of everyone involved inspires us,” Brown said.
