McClinton announces more than $8 million to help combat gun violence
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton January 31, 2022 | 12:21 PM
With deadly shootings reaching record highs, PA House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton announced today more than $8 million in state grants is going to invest in gun violence prevention strategies that will benefit the southwest and west Philadelphia communities she serves.
“The tragedy of a 17-year-old student fatally shot near Bartram High School is further proof that gun violence is not a simple problem or issue but a public health emergency that needs an all-hands-on-deck response – just like the COVID-19 pandemic,” said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. “I understand funding alone is not the answer; however, investing in our dedicated organizations and boots on the ground is a critical step in finding preventative approaches and tactics that are effective in our ongoing fight to move us away from what’s become a culture of killing.”
The funding was awarded through the state’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program for the following projects:
- African Family Health Organization: $498,278 to help implement the Safe Havens and Mentorship Program that will offer African and Caribbean immigrant and refugee boys and young men academic tutoring, job and life skills training, and conflict resolution instruction, among other things.
- Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia: $1,371,489 to expand its Counseling Center, Youth Violence Outreach Initiative, Victim/Witness Services, and administrative infrastructure to serve more areas hit hardest by gun violence.
- City of Philadelphia: $2 million to expand the city's group violence intervention strategy which employs law enforcement and social services to engage individuals at the highest risk of gun violence involvement.
- CORA Services Inc.: $726,432 to implement a two-tiered program that mitigates gun and group violence by empowering neighborhoods with high numbers of assaults to resolve conflicts using mediation, restorative justice and community dialogue.
- The Education Culture Opportunities Foundation: $150,000 to support youth and young adult workforce development initiatives to help them manage emotions, actions, power, energy and improve conflict resolution skills.
- EducationWorks (PowerCorpsPHL): $2 million to provide innovative paid work experiences and support services that lead to career pathway jobs for young Black and Latinx Philadelphians who experience barriers to quality employment related to court involvement, lack of postsecondary education and work experience, and the effects of poverty.
- University of Pennsylvania – Penn Injury Science Center & Penn Trauma: $1,267,032 to develop and evaluate a collective impact partnership to support community-engaged, evidence-based violence prevention in West/Southwest Philadelphia.
“Funding aside, all levels of government, law enforcement, community leaders and, most importantly, the people who live here must have a seat at the table and be part of finding real solutions that save lives and provide our neighbors – especially our children – with a safe place to call home,” McClinton explained.
VIP grants are administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and provide funding to local organizations for a wide range of programs focused on reducing community violence.
More information about the grant funding can be found at this link: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/PCCD-Details.aspx?newsid=36.