Chicago cred will utilize this funding to implement the micro-community violence intervention organization capacity building project

This $3,907,706 Cooperative Agreement was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CFDA 16.045). The funding will be used by Chicago CRED, Inc., a non-profit organization, to implement the Micro-Community Violence Intervention Organization Capacity Building Project. The project aims to expand the organizational capacity of selected community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide community violence intervention (CVI) services in 22 high-gun violence areas of Chicago. Key activities include a competitive CBO selection process, comprehensive needs assessments, and delivery of a tailored capacity-building curriculum to the selected CBOs. Expected outcomes include increased CBO capacity to serve high-risk individuals, improved data collection, and enhanced ability of CBOs to obtain future funding. The project period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The purpose is to expand the organizational capacity of selected community-based organizations that provide CVI services in the city of chicago in the 22 community areas identified as having the most concentrated rates of gun violence. Intended beneficiaries include individuals between the ages of 13 and 40 at highest risk of perpetrating or being victims of gun violence, and the community-based organizations (cbos) that provide CVI services to them. Project activities include the development of a competitive bid application; a CBO selection process in collaboration with OJP; comprehensive needs assessments of each organization; regular meetings with consultants; and a comprehensive curriculum tailored to each organization designed to strengthen their organizational, programmatic, and operational capacity. Expected outcomes include responsible administration of subawards; delivery of subawards and comprehensive TTA to selected cbos; increased capacity for selected cbos to serve highest-risk individuals; improved data collection systems; improved outcomes for the targeted areas served by the cbos; and increased capacity for cbos to apply for and obtain funding.