Milwaukee County is stepping up its game in the fight against gun violence with the launch of its new Advance Peace program, County Executive David Crowley announced in conjunction with the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and community partners. This evidence-based initiative aims to directly intervene in urban neighborhoods plagued by firearm disturbances, offering young individuals involved in such acts a chance at transformation through an 18-month minimum Peacemaker Fellowship. According to Milwaukee County Executive, the program is set to roll out in Milwaukee over the coming three years, backed by tailored, person-centered practices.
In addition to this forward-thinking move, the county's DHHS Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) has scored a $2 million federal grant from the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance. With this backing, spanned over three years, the aim is to sustain the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) work kick-started by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). "Advance Peace is an investment in solutions to decreasing gun violence that will help ensure Milwaukee County is a safe and healthy community where families and children can thrive," Crowley stated as he reflected on the county's commitment to suppressing the epidemic of gun violence, as per Milwaukee County Executive.
Originating in Richmond, CA, Advance Peace has seen implementation in over 10 U.S. cities, yielding a 20-80 percent drop in gun violence within two years of its introduction. This stark contrast has been especially significant against the backdrop of heightened gun violence in many cities during the pandemic. DeVone Boggan, founder of Advance Peace conveyed in an interview, "Advance Peace bridges the gap between anti-violence programming and a hard-to-reach population at the center of violence in urban areas, thus breaking the cycle of gun hostilities and altering the trajectory of these individuals’ lives," as noted by to Milwaukee County Executive.
The CVI strategy deploys community-specific, evidence-informed approaches to prevent and disrupt violent cycles, often exacerbated by systemic racism, disinvestments, and trauma. It's a method that calls upon credible messengers from affected communities to foster change and deter retaliation. David Muhammad, DHHS Deputy Director, acknowledges the successful outcomes of CVI work so far and looks to Advance Peace as a critical extension of these efforts, touching more at-risk youth.
Milwaukee Christian Center (MCC), the chosen implementation partner for the Advance Peace initiative, is geared up for the task. Their commitment is underscored by Andre Robinson, MCC's Director of Violence Prevention Programming, who emphasizes a collective approach to addressing community violence.