Serve & Connect’s response to Columbia mayor’s proposal for an Office of Gun Violence Prevention
At Serve & Connect, we envision a future where police and citizens are working together as one community to address the root causes of crime and promote safety so everyone can thrive. We recognize that to fulfill our mission and inspire positive change we must work in tandem with police and community partners who, like us, believe it is possible to bring about healing and change in police-community relationships.
The City of Columbia Police Department has been one of our closest partners since the founding of our organization. Early in our work, we identified that addressing violence, especially among at-risk youth, was a priority for both police and community partners. In response, we worked with Columbia Police Department to launch the North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative in 2018 to bring police and community partners together to address the causes of violence and cultivate a community where youth can thrive. Thanks to the work done in collaboration with these partners, Serve & Connect was able to apply for and successfully receive a federal grant last year to help fund evidence-based solutions for a community-driven approach to gun violence reduction. This work will be designed and implemented in partnership with our police and community partners, who have been essential to this work since day one.
We are optimistic to hear of the Mayor’s proposal to establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This type of leadership will help support the sustainability of efforts such as the activities funded by our federal grant. Addressing gun violence requires a comprehensive strategy that engages many partners. No one can do this work alone. We are proud to work alongside the many amazing organizations and individuals who live and serve in our city to advance toward a safer, brighter future for us all.
ABOUT THE NORTH COLUMBIA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE
The North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative was established in collaboration with the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Serve & Connect, and community leaders to foster police and community partnerships that empower the lives of neighborhood children and youth in the 29203 region. The initiative is funded by a Byrnes Criminal Justice Innovation grant from the Department of Justice.
ABOUT SERVE & CONNECT
Serve & Connect is a SC-based nonprofit that works directly with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and citizen leaders to create police and community partnerships that bring about positive change and promote safe, happy and resilient communities. The NCYEI is a Serve & Connect Compass Partner Community. Compass is Serve & Connect’s program focused on facilitating local movements where police and citizen partners are working together to tackle significant community challenges. For more information, visit serveandconnect.org.
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To learn more about Serve & Connect’s grant and history of work in this space, click on the buttons below.
“We are proud to help our city advance toward a safer, brighter future for us all.”