Fiedler and Saval announce violence-prevention grant for Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler February 7, 2023 | 11:30 AM
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18 – State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and State Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Phila., announced a grant worth $247,000 has been awarded to Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia to reduce community violence. The funding will come from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency for violence intervention and prevention.
CAGP plans to provide programming and activities for families and neighbors in South Philadelphia.
“We are thrilled to receive the state violence intervention and prevention grant,” said Sarun Chan, executive director of CAGP. “Our Cambodian community has called Philadelphia home for over four decades, and during this time we have faced and witnessed many disparities and issues of violence in our community. This project will support South Philadelphia families, regardless of ethnicity, from neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence and crime.”
In South Philadelphia, CAGP will host community conversations and organize community events that address gun violence for families of children and older adults.
“Every day I hear from constituents concerned about gun violence in the city,” Fiedler said. “While we work to get guns off the streets, we also need to invest in community groups like CAGP who have a long history of youth mentorship, leadership development and community advocacy. Strong communities are safe communities, and groups like CAGP make South Philly stronger.”
CAGP will also partner with KITHS (a North Philadelphia-based group that connects immigrants and refugees with access to resources) to organize an initiative for youth development through mentorship and the arts. They also will collaborate with other organizations and groups to build an understanding across cultural and racial barriers of how community violence impacts everyone.
Saval added: “Our work to eliminate violence from our communities needs to take a three-pronged approach: we need to stop the harm right now, we need to prevent future harm from occurring, and we need time, energy and money invested in our communities to end the root causes of violence. CAGP knows this, and I am proud to support their work for a Philadelphia that is safe, healthy and thriving for all of us who make our home here.”
The nearly $250,000 will be used to reduce violence and to support survivors and community members. Fiedler and Saval said they see the funding as a key part of a larger strategy to save lives, reduce trauma, and build stronger connections between neighbors and community organizations.