Partners / CeaseFire Illinois

CeaseFire Illinois is the Illinois branch of the Cure Violence Organization, which operates in 6 cities throughout the state – Chicago, Maywood, Rockford, East St. Louis, Springfield, and North Chicago/Waukegan.

CeaseFire began in 1995, and after five years of strategy development, had its first program in the West Garfield Park neighborhood where it achieved a 67% drop in shootings and killings. Following four more replications of the new model – averaging a 42% drop in shootings and killings – the work was expanded to 15 communities and in 2004, Chicago had a 25% drop in killings, with a 50% drop in the CeaseFire zones. Since then CeaseFire has been active in 18 communities in Chicago and 7 communities in Illinois. The method has had an extensive multi-year multi-method evaluation supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cure Violence Illinois – (CeaseFire Illinois)

Chicago

The Cure Violence program began in Chicago in 2000 and has operated continuously since.  The program is currently operating in 16 communities – each implemented by a local community organization – and is funded largely by the State of Illinois.  Additionally, there are four hospital program at Advocate Christ Medical Center, John Stroger Hospital, Loyola Medical Center, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

East St. Louis

The East St. Louis program began implementation in 2004, is run by East St. Louis Township, and is funded by the State of Illinois.

Maywood

The Maywood program began in 2004 and is the longest running program outside Chicago.  The program is run by Youth Outreach Services and is funded by the State of Illinois.

Rockford

The Rockford program began in 2005, is run out of the Booker Washington Center, and is funded by the State of Illinois.

Springfield

The Springfield program began in 2013, is run out of the YMCA, and is funded by the State of Illinois.

Waukegan/North Chicago

The Waukegan/North Chicago program began in 2005, is run out of the Family First Center of Lake County, and is funded by the State of Illinois.

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What Others
Are Saying

During the lean times [when funding was unavailable], Cure Violence workers volunteered their time because they were that passionate about it. It was about more than money. It had to do with the sense of worth that people felt, in that what they were doing was really important in the community.Reverend Marshall Hatch, New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago

I’ve seen this work; I’m in the middle of watching this work. I firmly believe in it.Chief Charlie Beck, Chief of Police, Los Angeles Police Department

I just shook my head in disbelief at what they could do, that the program staff were able to sit down and get people to work out their differences…. [V]iolence interrupters are asked to go into the most dangerous neighborhoods, in the most dangerous cities in the U.S., at the most dangerous times, to get people to stop shooting each other. And they’re going in unarmed. Yet, they go in, and they do it. And it works. It’s really changed my view about what’s possible.Prof. Daniel Webster, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence

I would strongly encourage anyone that’s having a violent crime problem, especially in an urban area to look very closely at Cure Violence.Richard Devine, Former State's Attorney for Cook County, IL

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