Innovation in Community Violence Intervention Research, Policy, & Practice
Arne Duncan, Managing Partner, Emerson Collective & Former U.S. Secretary of Education, will provide opening remarks.
Corners’ second annual Symposium highlights emerging CVI initiatives in Chicago and across Illinois. The event features panels and presentations from leaders, practitioners, and policymakers who are spearheading innovative violence prevention efforts and incorporating Corners’ research and analyses into their work. Panelists will discuss their work and how it is helping strengthen the field. A featured data presentation from Corners will accompany each panel session.
DATE AND TIME
Thurs., December 15 2022, 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT.
Doors open and lunch available at 11:30 a.m. CT and a reception at 3:30 p.m. CT to follow for in-person guests.
LOCATION
Live Event: Chicago Cultural Center (GAR Hall and Rotunda) 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
AGENDA
12:00 p.m. - Welcome - Soledad McGrath, Executive Director, Corners
Opening Remarks - Arne Duncan, Managing Partner, Emerson Collective & Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Framing for the Afternoon - Andrew Papachristos, Faculty Director, Corners
Panel 1 - El Pueblo Unido: The Impact of Gun Violence in Chicago Latino Communities
Gun violence takes an unrelenting toll on communities. Yet, despite a national increase in rates of gun violence among Latinos, the effect and impact of gun violence in Latino communities is often less discussed or absent in local and national debates. This panel will highlight the scope of the gun violence epidemic in Chicago’s Latino communities, highlight existing efforts by community leaders to address this complex issue, and elevate the need for continued advocacy and funding, fresh policy solutions, and research.
- Samuel Castro, Director of Community Violence Intervention, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
- Maria Garza, Executive Coordinator, READI Chicago, Heartland Alliance
- Eroica Del Real, Field Manager, Metropolitan Family Services
- Samuel Santana, Associate Director of Violence Prevention and Intervention Department, Puerto Rican Cultural Center
- In conversation with Jorge Matos, Senior Director, READI Chicago, Heartland Alliance
- Data Presentation by Milan Rivas, Data Analyst, Corners
Featured Presentation on Violence Prevention Intergovernmental Partnership - Delrice Adams, Executive Director, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)
Panel 2 - Women, Girls, and Gun Violence: At the Intersection of Community and Gender-Based Violence
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a nation-wide increase in gun violence, including dramatic increases in shootings and homicides targeting women. Despite the promising reductions in shootings in Chicago this year, gun violence victimizations of women have not similarly decreased. This panel engages researchers, violence prevention professionals, and gender-based violence (GBV) experts in a discussion on the intersection of community violence and GBV; current efforts to address the issue; and opportunities for programming, policy, and advocacy.
- Tashee Poplous, Associate Director, Violence Prevention, Breakthrough Urban Ministries
- Jennifer Greene, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Lifespan
- Necole Muhammed, Director, Women’s Center, Chicago CRED
- Rocio Vasquez, Care Team Supervisor, Enlace
- In conversation with Angelica D’Souza, Research Project Manager, Corners
Special Guest Speaker- Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas, Illinois State Senator, 20th District
Panel 3 - Driving Innovation in CVI: The FLIP Strategy
FLIP (Flatlining Violence Inspires Peace) is a multi-pronged gun violence intervention strategy designed to buttress Chicago’s growing outreach capacity by deploying Peacekeepers, who serve as temporary violence preventionists, to hotspots in communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence. Peacekeepers, trained and supervised by outreach professionals, earn a modest stipend and receive services to support their personal and professional development. This panel features researchers, outreach professionals and FLIP Peacekeepers discussing the program’s contribution to the development of the CVI field and opportunities for the future.
- Benjamin Estrada, Director of Street Outreach, New Life Centers
- Cedric Hawkins, Outreach Supervisor, Chicago CRED
- Bryce Richardson, FLIP Supervisor, North Lawndale
- Jessica Johnson, Outreach Worker, ALSO
- In conversation with Jalon Arthur, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Chicago CRED
- Data Presentation by Anshul Tambay, Data Analyst, Corners
Closing Remarks - James Mitchell, Outreach Supervisor, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
3:30 p.m. - Adjourn & Invitation to Reception - Andrew Papachristos, Corners
ABOUT THE EVENT
As rates of gun violence have reached record highs across the country over the last few years, there is newfound energy and commitment at the local, state, and federal level to tackling the violence. In this environment, community violence intervention (CVI) has emerged as a central component of comprehensive violence prevention strategies in many cities. Chicago is one of several cities leading the movement to expand the reach and impact of community violence intervention through the development of CVI programs, partnerships, and coordinated approaches that are integrated into larger public safety efforts. As CVI becomes an increasingly dominant strategy, community and civic organizations are partnering with researchers to help enhance their work, and policymakers are looking to research-practice partnerships for answers on the impact of CVI initiatives and investments.
Building off the momentum from its inaugural Symposium, Corners’ second annual Symposium focuses on innovation in community violence intervention research, policy, and practice, and highlights emerging CVI initiatives in Chicago and across Illinois. The Symposium features several panels of leaders, policymakers, and practitioners who are spearheading innovative violence prevention efforts and incorporating Corners’ research and analyses into their work. Panelists will discuss their work and how it is helping strengthen the field. A featured data presentation from Corners will accompany each panel session.
Lunch will be available at 11:30 a.m. CT for in-person guests, with a reception to follow. The Symposium will be live streamed for virtual guests, and a recording will be shared following the event.
Arne Duncan, Managing Partner, Emerson Collective & Former U.S. Secretary of Education, will deliver opening remarks, CVI leaders and practitioners will share their work, and Corners will present some of its latest research findings.
