McClinton announces more than $764,000 in funding to invest in local efforts to combat gun violence

Rep. Joanna E. McClinton    September 9, 2021 | 9:18 AM

PA House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton announced today that $764,886 in state funding is going to help several local organizations and schools combat gun violence in the southwest and west Philadelphia neighborhoods she represents.

McClinton said the grants were awarded from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Gun Violence Reduction Program and distributed as follows:

  • $225,000 for Community of Compassion Inc. to launch its “S.T.O.P.” Anti-Violence Program and utilize the Community of Care Violence Prevention model, which is a faith-based, multi-agency approach to mapping and deploying community resources and responses. Proposed activities include after school programming, culturally responsive mentoring, education, and law enforcement resources.
     
  • $219,886 for Dr. Bernett L. Johnson Sayre Health Center to support the creation of a community center in Cobbs Creek, which will offer training to members of the West Philadelphia community along with students and staff at Sayre High School who are in restorative justice circles. The center will also provide a safe after school space for students to study.     
     
  • $95,000 for Muslims for Humanity CDC to implement a community outreach program. The funds will cover costs associated with training outreach workers, mentors, and violence interrupters, among other things.
     
  • $225,000 for the School District of Philadelphia to hire Safe Passage staff at four of its schools – including Motivation and Sayre High Schools in McClinton’s legislative district – who will be tasked with increasing safe routes and transportation options for students as well as help deter violence and criminal activity.

“No one should fear for their life when they step outside of their door or worry if their child will make it back safely when they go out to play. However, this is the sad reality we face in our communities as gun violence soars,” said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. “Securing this funding and investing in the efforts of our grassroot organizations and schools to reduce gun violence is a critical step in our overall fight to provide everyone with a safe place to call home.”

McClinton added these projects were part of the more than $5 million in PCCD grants awarded to strengthen violence reduction efforts across Philadelphia.

More information about the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is available here.

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