McClinton announces $3.66 million to support local efforts to combat gun violence
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton December 2, 2021 | 12:36 PM
House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton announced today $3.66 million in grants will support several area organizations in their ongoing fight to stop the shootings and other forms of violence plaguing the communities she represents.
“Every day we lose Pennsylvanians to gun violence, traumatizing our families and our communities,” McClinton said. “These violence prevention grants are an important tool for our communities to support and expand safety initiatives, to protect families and neighborhoods, and to begin to reverse the epidemic of gun violence and its negative outcomes.”
Among the recipients of the funding – which was awarded through the Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program – was the nonprofit ACHIEVEability, who is receiving $1,042,410 for the 60th Street Strong Coalition to work with local, minority business owners on an anti-violence program to engage youth in paid apprenticeships.
“We’ve watched too many of our neighbors have their lives tragically cut short to the gun violence epidemic,” said Jamila Harris-Morrison, executive director of ACHIEVEability. “This funding supports our collaboration with 60th Street Corridor businesses to provide our young people with important resources – like food, training, and mentorship – and most importantly a job. Together we are opening the door for opportunities and laying the groundwork for a safe and successful future.”
McClinton added the following groups are also receiving VIP grants that will greatly benefit the neighborhoods she serves:
- Community Solutions CDC: $332,500 to support umbrella activities for five organizations (Black Men Unifying Black Men, Helping Our Own Daily, Kay’s Special Experience, Victim’s Impact Services, Men of Courage) that will be trained in administering the Cure Violence Model of gun violence reduction.
- Antioch Christian Fellowship: $150,000 to expand the Level Up program, which offers programs to reduce gun violence and recidivism rates in the City of Philadelphia while providing a safe haven for young people and transforming them into future leaders.
- Coalition of African and Caribbean Immigrants – Philadelphia: $50,000 to expand a youth/children project focused on engaging African and Caribbean Immigrant Communities against gun violence through soccer, youth leadership development and grassroots capacity building.
- Eddie’s House: $150,000 to expand trauma-informed mentoring, community and family engagement to children/young adults and their families who have experienced trauma or are at risk of experiencing trauma.
- Hand2Paw: $150,000 to support the implementation of a violence prevention component to its Unleashing Opportunities paid youth internship program to increase recruitment, retention and training of youth most impacted by gun and community violence.
- Inner Strength Foundation: $250,000 to support trauma-sensitive and restorative healing practices through the Inner Strength mindfulness and self-care program.
- Jarrell Christopher Seay Love and Laughter Foundation: $50,000 to provide trauma-informed counseling services to men, boys and other family members grieving a loved one.
- Neighborhood United Against Drugs: $50,000 to implement a violence prevention risk reduction intervention designed to help change the behaviors of young men at risk of committing violent acts against other persons. (Note: Urban Affairs Coalitions serving as fiscal sponsor for the project).
- Power of Paint Art Academy: $150,000 to support a violence prevention and intervention program where trained staff will use art and therapeutic approaches, via outreach and referral services, to improve the quality of life for individuals who are victims and/or perpetrators of violence.
- Resolve Philly: $240,000 to support the growth of Equally Informed Survivors, a free bilingual SMS news and information text-line that serves the information needs of those directly impacted by gun violence by answering individualized questions, connecting them with available programs, services, and resources, and providing a link to local newsrooms.
- We Love Philly: $50,000 to help with the creation of three state-approved pre-apprenticeship programs at One Art Community Center.
- Youth Mentoring Partnership: $500,000 to support the maintenance, enhancement and expansion of its mentoring, safe haven and social-emotional learning programs for middle and high school youth 11-19 years of age.
- Youth Sentencing Reentry Project: $495,498 to support the continued delivery of its holistic reentry advocacy and support for young people charged in the adult criminal justice system, and juvenile lifers.
In September, McClinton announced more than $764,000 in Gun Violence Reduction Program grants for the School District of Philadelphia, Community of Compassion CDC, Inc., Dr. Bernett L. Johnson Sayre Health Center, and Muslims for Humanity CDC.