For many people today, living with the constant threat of violence is not an isolated experience, but one interwoven into the daily fabric of life, impacting family stability, health outcomes, educational attainment and economic opportunities. As a fellow at The Kresge Foundation, I am driven by the conviction that community violence intervention (CVI) is as much about restoring dignity, health and safety as it is about addressing the root causes of violence.

The opportunity to align philanthropy with transformative, community-led change offers a unique way to reshape environments so that entire communities can thrive.

Through recent convenings with leaders from various community violence intervention organizations, common themes, opportunities and challenges underscore philanthropy’s potential to support these essential efforts. Each convening—a Memphis gathering of our community safety and health partners hosted by Heal 901, the 2024 Cities United Convening, and the Kresge-sponsored Our Urban Future: The Next Era of Making Change in America’s Cities—addressed three critical challenges: racial repair and healing, economic stability and the pursuit of equity. These discussions made it clear that community safety and health must be reframed as collective public health priorities that empower communities to address their own needs. Philanthropy can play a crucial role by offering adaptable, sustained funding to support not only immediate needs but also the infrastructure for lasting, generational change.

Community-driven solutions to address core needs: Convening themes

Across convenings in 2024, community-driven solutions, sustainable funding, ecosystem-building and public safety reform came up as consistent themes. In Memphis, the community safety and health gathering hosted by Heal 901 brought together a diverse range of voices and perspectives, including representatives from organizations such as Daughters Beyond Incarceration, Detroit Life is Valuable Everyday (DLIVE), Fresno Building Healthy Communities, the RYSE Center, and Kresge staff from the Health, Arts & Culture and American Cities programs.

This week-long gathering highlighted the importance of building trust and prioritizing health within community safety initiatives. Participants shared stories of their unique challenges and needs, emphasizing that community-led CVI work is indispensable and that securing adequate funding remains a persistent challenge. With sustained, flexible support, communities gain the freedom to implement programs that directly address core needs, foster long-term resilience and create environments where individuals and families can flourish.

At the Cities United convening in Seattle, the need for structural shifts in public safety became evident. Young leaders and community-based organizations from all over the country discussed the importance of creating Offices of Community Safety at the local level that prioritize non-enforcement solutions. One key takeaway was the idea of appointing a “chief of care”— a role designed to prioritize health and wellness as core elements of public safety. Additionally, the session emphasized that young leaders should not only have a seat at the table but be involved in decision-making roles that shape the future of community safety. This approach isn’t just about representation; it’s about creating pathways for young people to contribute their insights, experiences and leadership.

One of the most impactful moments in Seattle was the journey mapping exercise, where young leaders shared personal stories of trauma, healing and growth. These stories revealed that CVI work extends beyond reducing violence; it also fosters healing. The opportunity to share their journeys enables young leaders to return to their communities as advocates and guides, bringing others into the fold and creating a sustainable model of resilience. Programs like the Roca Impact Institute’s Rewire Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) demonstrate how holistic approaches are essential in CVI work.

Urban Futures session on economic justice

The Our Urban Futures session on economic justice in September 2024 highlighted that sustainable economic opportunities are essential for long-term community health and safety. The American Dream promises prosperity and mobility, yet for many in the Southern United States — where one in six residents live in poverty — this dream remains unfulfilled. Poverty, especially in the South, remains a significant barrier to social mobility. For children born into the bottom 20% of income earners, the chances of reaching the top 20% as adults are only 4%. This reality illustrates the need for philanthropy to support initiatives that go beyond crisis intervention and focus on sustained economic growth.

Economic stability is crucial for communities to transcend survival and foster environments where individuals, especially young people, have the resources and support to thrive. When economic opportunity is prioritized as a cornerstone of community safety and health, organizations can help families and communities heal and experience economic success, both of which are integral to CVI work. For example, LISC Memphis is working to create equitable and resilient communities of opportunity for Memphians through building community nonprofit partnerships, access to financial opportunity, and safe and affordable homes and neighborhoods.

Opportunities for Kresge’s community safety and health portfolio

To foster meaningful change, we can prioritize community-driven solutions and ecosystem-building to rebuild trust, particularly in communities of color that feel neglected by government systems. Support for community-based organizations to mobilize healing resources, collaborate with local partners and provide access to resources that improve health outcomes can lay the groundwork for progress.

Additionally, connecting organizations with health systems to create job opportunities within the communities they serve is vital. This type of collaboration can empower local leaders, improve community health outcomes and strengthen the ecosystem around CVI work. Supporting organizations engaged in CVI work and nurturing the next generation of leaders can support long-term change to help lift communities out of cycles of poverty and violence.

One successful example of this approach is the partnership between the New Orleans Health Department Office of Violence Prevention and Ubuntu Village, a New Orleans-based community organization that aims to empower communities to address violence through conflict mediation, resource mobilization, culturally responsive programming and strengthened social capital networks.

Ubuntu Village equips young people and their families with tools for resilience and growth and provides early intervention to address both immediate and systemic contributors to community violence. Supporting organizations like Ubuntu Village allows Kresge to bolster the efforts of leaders with the cultural competence and local trust necessary to enact meaningful, long-lasting change.

Strategies, resources and activities to prioritize

Several strategies emerged as critical for enhancing community safety and health. First, the Memphis Community Safety and Health gathering emphasized the opportunities to invest in collaborative spaces where local CVI organizations, government representatives and cross-sector partners can address violence together. These collaborations require not only financial support but also environments where resources are transparently shared and enable collective accountability and alignment.

Second, the 2024 Cities United Convening underscored the need for flexible, long-term funding that allows communities to grow sustainably rather than reacting to short-term projects. Supporting roles like a chief of care within city governments, who can direct resources toward community-centered approaches that prioritize health and wellness, is one example of how these resources can be deployed. Additionally, building data infrastructure is essential to iterate, measure success effectively, and ensure that CVI organizations have reliable data to monitor progress, adjust strategies and improve outcomes.

My lived experiences and ability to recognize early signs of issues that, if addressed, could prevent violence and improve community safety are what bring me to this work. Having witnessed firsthand the systemic neglect impacting Black and Brown communities, I understand that much of what we face can be prevented through intentional investment and support.
The intersection of community safety, health and racial justice represents a powerful avenue for philanthropy to drive systemic change. As the conversations in Memphis, Seattle and beyond reveal, real transformation requires sustained commitment, community-centered strategies and the will to reimagine public safety.

Together, we can create a foundation for thriving communities where safety is defined not only by the absence of violence but by the presence of health, opportunity, and resilience.