This Network is designed to catalyze and expand local gun violence prevention by learning about and adapting best practices from across the country. Participating community foundations also work together to apply a racial equity lens to their gun violence prevention initiatives.
Community foundations that participate in our Gun Violence Prevention Network will leave with:
- An energized, committed internal team that is working effectively together on gun violence prevention strategies and plans;
- A better understanding of effective gun violence prevention practices;
- A general understanding of local gun violence data;
- A blueprint to start or expand local gun violence prevention activities; and
- Strong peer connections to draw upon in the future.
Cohort 1 (2021-22)
The first cohort of the Gun Violence Prevention Network was managed by CFLeads and funded by the California Wellness Foundation. It ran for a year between Fall 2021 and 2022.
Cohort Members
The following community foundations participated in the first Gun Violence Prevention Network cohort:
- The Cleveland Foundation
- Community Foundation of Greater Flint
- Kalamazoo Community Foundation
- Ventura County Community Foundation
Structure
The Network, which was comprised of four community foundation teams that include CEOs, senior staff and community partners, worked together over a year to learn about the different methods of gun violence prevention and identify a cohesive strategy appropriate for their own community.
The Network was guided by national gun violence prevention experts and speakers who provided substantive information on current research and best practices, connected teams to resources, and provided one-on-one content advice.
Content Partner
We were pleased to work with our content partner for this Network, Reginald (Reggie) Moore, Director of Violence Prevention Policy and Engagement for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Injury Center.
For more than five years, Reggie Moore led a community-driven process and convened multi-sector partners to launch and implement The Blueprint for Peace, a comprehensive gun violence prevention initiative in Milwaukee. He joined the Medical College of Wisconsin this past spring and grounds his work in the understanding of violence as a public health matter.
As our content partner, Moore helped network participants learn about and apply specific gun violence prevention best practices.
Contact
We are planning to launch a second cohort of the Gun Violence Prevention Network in 2023. If you are interested or if you have any questions, please contact Caroline Merenda at cmerenda@cfleads.org or 617-854-3547.