Seeking Solutions to reduce Community Violence

Violence has been apart of our history, from our Genesis, and all Nations, cities and families have sought solutions to violence, abuse and ways to edify public safety and protect the populace.  

 

Interestingly enough, after all of this time, there is not a consensus on the actual defintion of community violence.  

 

The World Health Organization offers a definition that many have adopted: 

 

Community violence is defined as: violence between people who are not related, and who may or may not know each other (acquaintances and strangers). It generally, but not always, takes place outside the home, in public places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community violence, particularly for men, occurs most often in public places. The most common place for violent incidents between strangers and acquaintances to occur is the street (26% for women and 42% for men).  For women the next most common places are the home and workplace, whereas for men it is 'other places', pubs and clubs and other places.

 

According to the Unity Roadmap produced by Prevention Institute, it takes a coordinated effort from the following participants.  

 

HIGH-LEVEL LEADERSHIP

 

Leaders can send a strong public message by declaring that violence is both unac- ceptable and preventable. From mayors, other elected officials, agency and department heads, police chiefs, & public health directors to superintendents, leaders can

1. Catalyze and lead policy change

2. Ensure that financial and staffing resources are directed to preventing violence, helping to ensure efficacy and long-term sustainability, and

3. Engage broader support through eliciting multiple partnerships between the public and private sector. More importantly, high-level leadership can successful- ly move forward priorities and engage and inspire others in that forward motion.

 

COLLABORATION & STAFFING

 

No one person, group, organization, department or agency has the responsibility or ability to prevent violence.  Violence prevention requires multiple private, pub- lic,and community players to come together in a strategic and coordinated way.  An interdisciplinary collaboration can be organized as a coalition, committee, network or other form of public/private partnership, which serves as the central coordinat- ing body. Further, dedicated staffing—situated at the city government level can coordinate activities, facilitate communication between key sectors and the community, staff a coalition, implement activities, and help ensure accountability.

 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

 

A mobilized, diverse constituency of individuals with common grievances can help advance a cause. Community-based organizations, the faith community, local businesses, and community residents such as youth and grassroots activists, all have a vital role to play in efforts to prevent violence. Their engagement, input, and leadership are critical in defining the problem and prioritizing and imple- menting strategies to prevent violence. Then, participation helps ensure that plan- ning, programming, and policies will meet their needs. Individuals and communities most impacted by violence can help transcend turf and other obstacles by advo- cating for and demanding attention be paid to preventing violence. Ensuring community engagement can help build the capacity of individ- uals and organizations to forge solutions for their community. Also, as city leaders move in and out of office, community investment and ownership can help to build and maintain political will for preventing violence with new leadership, transcending election cycles. 

 

Even with all of this knowledge that we have learned, it still comes down to each local community, making the commitment, and taking this knowledge and personalizing it to their own city's character, local history and various social landscapes.

 

This process began, with the commitment of the Mayor of Columbia, MO to make this proclamation on Resolution R149-13

 

Determines the history, trends and currrent status of violent crime in Columbia and provides recommendations on what can be done to decrease violent crime within the community.  Appointments are made by the Mayor and there are no term limits.

 

• Tyree Byndom

• Steve Calloway

• Chris Campbell

• Cindy Garrett

• Dan Hanneken

• Pam Hardin

• Mike Hayes

• Christopher Haynes

• Lorenzo Lawson

• Paul Prevo

• Glenn Robertson

• Jerry Taylor

• David Thomas

• Laura Nauser (Co-Chair)

• Michael Trapp (Co-Chair)