CCR, in collaboration with ideas42, has launched a place-based initiative in Washington, DC, entitled “Changing the Narrative on Gun Violence.” Working with a Community Advisory Board convened by our partner The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, our novel approach centers the narrative of the community experience of adversity and inequity—all the hardships that occur before violence erupts—to create community-driven interventions and policy change. By centering the voices and stories of community members, we aim to
- Highlight the root causes of community violence (e.g., inequity in housing, economic opportunity, food access, education, and access to mental/behavioral healthcare)
- Advocate for investments in two-generation (whole family) solutions that close the equity gap
Funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, the initiative will inform a DC council effort to redesign health and human service delivery aimed at addressing chronic adversity in community. Our hope is that this campaign will shift how the public, policymakers, and city leaders perceive the issue of community violence and lead to preventative solutions aimed at improving social and economic conditions.