Fresno economic opportunities commission advance peace (advance peace fresno) proposes to implement the community based violence intervention and prevention initiative

The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC) received a $2,000,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance to implement the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CFDA 16.045) in Fresno, California. The grant funding will support Fresno EOC's "Advance Peace Fresno" program, which aims to reduce firearm assaults and gun-related homicides citywide by providing intensive case management, mentorship, job training, and other supportive services to young adults aged 17-24 who are at the center of gun violence as perpetrators or victims.

The key program components include: (1) providing financial support and trauma-informed case management to participants, (2) sharing the latest research on gun violence prevention with community partners, and (3) delivering culturally responsive services. Fresno EOC will collaborate with research partners like Safe Passages and UC Berkeley to study the conditions of gun violence in Fresno and evaluate the program's impact. This 3-year grant award began on October 1, 2023 and runs through September 30, 2026.

Advance peace fresno seeks to reduce barriers to care for victims with culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate services for people living in fresno. Funding will support to young adults aged 1724 who are at the center of gun violencepeople who areperpetrators in gun violence and young adults who are victims to IT. Program participants are young adults who are on parole, are suspected of a firearms assault, or experienced violence. Advance peace goals are to: (1) increase supportive services for fellows with financial support; (2) share the latest research and understandings on gun violence prevention with community-based partners; and (3) deliver culturally responsive, trauma-informed case management. This program will reduce the rates of firearm assaults and gun-related homicides citywide. Advance peace does this with seven key program components: intensive case management, developing lifemap goals, daily check-INS, referral navigation, intergenerational mentorship through elders circle, internship opportunities, lifemap milestone allowance, and transformative travel stipends. Advance peace coordinates with community partners, a multisectoral partnership of local leaders that fight human trafficking in our region. Leading research partners, safe passages, and university of california, berkeley, will help support research efforts to identify and understand the conditions of gun violence in fresno, california. With funding, advance peace fresno will reimagine community safety with strong preventative measures that amplifies the voices of those impacted by gun violence.