CeaseFire Illinois: Stopping Violence, One Life at a Time
Chicago has a reputation for having some of the highest violent crime rates in the …
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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.
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.
The East St. Louis program began implementation in 2004, is run by East St. Louis Township, and is funded by the State of Illinois.
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.
The Rockford program began in 2005, is run out of the Booker Washington Center, and is funded by the State of Illinois.
The Springfield program began in 2013, is run out of the YMCA, and is funded by the State of Illinois.
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.
Chicago has a reputation for having some of the highest violent crime rates in the …
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Violence interrupter Kenneth Edwards was recently profiled on YouTube's " Moral …
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