September 5, 2023
Dear Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Manager:
Mayor Rex Richardson
Mary Zendejas, 1st District
Cindy Allen, Vice Mayor, 2nd District
Kristina Duggan, 3rd District
Daryl Supernaw, 4th District
Megan Kerr, 5th District
Dr. Suely Saro, 6th District
Roberto Uranga, 7th District
Al Austion, 8th District
Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie, gth District
Thomas B. Modica, City Manager
The Long Beach Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Collaborative has an extensive history of violence prevention and intervention initiatives and experiences in our community. Given our success in addressing violence, the revived strategy must produce a more robust system to tackle the political, economic, and social determinants of violence in the City of Long Beach. We recognize and appreciate the investments proposed for the cultural centers, mobile recess, teen academies, BE Safe, and Hoops After Dark are essential and related efforts for violence intervention. However, we strongly recommend an amendment to consolidate citywide funding for community violence intervention and prevention programs in the FY 2024 Budget. Given the fact that the proposed budget exceeds $700 million dollars, we would be remiss if we did not utilize this opportunity to reframe expectations for budgetary outcomes from the viewpoint of violence prevention.
The Long Beach Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Collaborative are respectfully recommending for the following:
I. Violence prevention program funding and investments will:
a. Include Evidence-based and data-driven strategies
b. Target hotspot neighborhoods and zip codes (e.g., 90802, 90804, 90805, 90806, 90810, 90813)
c. Engage culturally appropriate representatives of communities of color d. Include lead agencies that possess a minimum of 5 years of CVI experiences and a track record of demonstrated effective outcomes
e. Engage trusted organizations and leaders with lived experiences f. Prioritize transparency and an inclusionary process for organizations to apply for violence prevention and intervention funding
II. That the City of Long Beach Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Manager support community-based organizations and leaders in violence prevention by collaborating in a strategic initiative that speaks to the importance of impact, fidelity, and sustainability of these initiatives.
We look forward to solidifying a valued partnership between the City of Long Beach and community-based organizations that can be instrumental in enhancing and supporting community violence intervention and prevention funding, programs, and resources.
Sincerely,
Long Beach CVIPI Collaborative Partners
Long Beach CVIPI Background:
The Long Beach Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) is a funded project by the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This initiative seeks to prevent and reduce violent crime in communities by supporting comprehensive, evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs based on partnerships among community residents, local government agencies, victim service providers, community-based organizations, law enforcement, hospitals, researchers, and other community stakeholders.
Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies are an evidence-based approach to reducing violence through tailored community-center initiatives and partnerships among community residents and stakeholders in the City of Long Beach. With Centro CHA being the lead agency, we have identified and will continue to identify key members and organizations in our community to support our neighborhoods through an equitable approach and participate in the planning team. Centro CHA is committed long-term to ending the racial and generational cycle of violence in Long Beach. The agency is the City's premier Latino-led organization; we have a proven-record of service as a trusted community-based "hub" for delivering specialized culturally and linguistically friendly youth and family development services. In addition, our staff has been trained to deliver evidenced based strategies and best practices including case- management, mentoring, workforce development solutions, violence prevention and intervention, and community engagement services and reentry programs for 25 years.
LONG BEACH CVIPI COLLABORATIVE
CVIPI Objectives: In FY2022, the Department of
Justice launched the Community Based Violence
Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), a historic federal investment in community violence intervention
programs. Now called the Community Based Violence
Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), this
initiative seeks to prevent and reduce violent crime in communities by supporting comprehensive, evidence-
based violence intervention and prevention programs
based on partnerships among community residents,
local government agencies, victim service providers,
community-based organizations, law enforcement,
hospitals, researchers, and other community
stakeholders.
With Centro CHA being the lead agency, the Long
Beach CVIPI Collaborative was awarded $1.5 million
to create a road map, improve and expand current
CVI strategies, and evaluate measurement outcomes
of our implementation plan. This 30+ member
culturally diverse collaborative includes trusted
credible messengers, community stakeholders,
service providers, cultural-based organizations,
hospitals, local schools, and government officials. LONG BEACH The collaborative has provided funding to culturally,
socially, and ethnically diverse organizations to
increase their capacity for violent conflict intervention and prevention. On Thursday, May 25th, 2023, we
hosted the collaborative's kick-off meeting, and we
will continue to hold monthly/bi-monthly meetings
until 2025. We have awarded 10 Sub-recipient Partner
Contracts and Awarded a Sub-contract to Researcher
& Criminologist: Dr. James M. Binnall & Dr. Nick
Peterson.
SUPPORTING AGENCIES:
LONG BEACH
Dignity Health.
PORVIDA INTERVAL HOUSE
St. Mary Medical Center
Crisis Shelters & Centers for Victims of Domestic Violence Families in Good Health Cong Bench Educated Men with Meaningful Messages
LOVE
BEYOND Justice For the LesTO
United
2 Murdered
Success in LIMITS cantel Cambodian WSLBK
Children long beach Community
wontenshelted
Challenges
Long Beach
HOOPS DARK Action James M. Binnall
LATINOS CONSULTING
Puente
Supporting Efforts &
Awareness
A Call to Action: Peace Rally &
Press Conference
The CVIPI team created posters and participated in a Peace Rally held on Tuesday, May 16th, for Eric Gregory Brown III, a 12-year-old boy killed in a drive-by shooting in Long Beach.
Centro CHA also provided Eric Brown's family with victims of crime assistance and emergency housing supportive services.
Additionally, the CVIPI team attended the Long Beach City Council held that same Tuesday, May 16th, to request
additional awareness, resources, and support in violence prevention, and we asked the city to release an award for anyone with information on the crime. Please find the linked article: 'Enough is enough': Community rallies for action after boy was killed in drive-by shooting.
National Gun Violence
Awareness Day
The CVIPI team joined Memorial Healthcare and
200 others on Friday, June 2, 2023, in honoring -ESOTECT National Gun Violence Awareness Day by wearing
CICENS
orange. Please find the linked article: Long Beach
first responders hold demonstration on National
Gun Violence Awareness Day.
LBUSD Board Meeting
Our CVIPI collaborative members attended the Long
Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) board meeting on
June 7th, 2023, to address the uptick in youth and racial violence occurring across high schools in the district.
LONG BEACH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION - JUNE 7, 2023
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON ITEMS NOT
LISTED ON AGENDA
Long Beach Community
Violence Intervention
& Prevention Initiative
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
LISTENING
SESSION
Thursday,
Join us in this community listening
session to engage in conversations September 14, 2023
of violence, safety, and access to
5:00 - 8:00 PM
resources in the City of Long
Beach.
St. Mary Medical Center
Your voice matters, and it should Parr Health Enhancement Center be centered in our solutions to 1050 Linden Ave.
address community violence and
Long Beach, CA 90813
prevention initiatives.
More Information on this Free Event:
For Questions Please Contact:
[email protected] Parking provided
562.491.9100 ext. 2402 Light refreshments and meals included Opportunity Drawings
Scan the QR Resource Tables
Code to RVSP
VZE Dignity Health. United INTERVAL HOUSE
St. Mary Medical Center Cambodian Success in
CHA Community Crisis Shelters & Centers for Victims of Domestic Violence Educated Men with Meaningful Messages Families in Good Health Challenges LOVE Long Beach
Justice For community
BEYOND the
HOOPS DARK urdered WSLBX Action.
LIMITS center
Children long beach LATINS PARTNERSHIP
WomenShelter Helping People. Changing Lives.
of Lone Beach Puente
SESIÓN DE PLÁTICAS DE
VIOLENCIA EN SU COMUNIDAD
Su voz es importante y debe ser central en las
soluciones de violencia en la comunidad y Long Beach Community Violence Intervention & Prevention Initiative
iniciativas de prevención.
Acompáñanos para una sesión de
Jueves, 14 de Septiembre de 2023
pláticas para tener conversaciones
sobre la violencia, la seguridad y los 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM recursos en la ciudad de Long Beach. St. Mary Medical Center Parr Health Enhancement Center
Si tiene preguntas, por favor comuníquese con: 1050 Linden Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 [email protected]
562.491.9100 ext. 2402 Información adicional sobre este evento gratuito:
• Estacionamiento proporcionado
• Bebidas y comida incluida
Escanear el código QR Sorteos de oportunidad
para Reservación • Recursos comunitarios
Long Beach Community Violence Intervention
& Prevention Initiative
Thursday, September 14, 2023
5:00 - 8:00 PM
St. Mary Medical Center
Parr Health Enhancement Center
1050 Linden Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813
[email protected]
562.491.9100 ext. 2402
•
Scan the QR
Code to RVSP
Long Beach Community
Violence Intervention
& Prevention Initiative
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
LISTENING
SESSION
Wednesday,
Join us in this community listening
session to engage in conversations September 20, 2023
of violence, safety, and access to
resources in the City of Long 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Beach.
Church One Ministries
Your voice matters, and it should 700 E 70th St.
be centered in our solutions to
Long Beach, CA 90805
address community violence and
prevention initiatives.
More Information on this Free Event:
For Questions or
• Parking provided
to RSVP Please Contact:
• Light refreshments and meals included
• Opportunity Drawings
Email: [email protected], or
[email protected]
Phone: (562) 612-4180 Ext. 1018
Dignity Health. United INTERVAL HOUSE
- 1005
St. Mary Medical Center Cambodian Success in
Educated Men with Meaningful Messages Community Crisis Shelters & Centers for Victims of Domestic Violence Families in Good Health Challenges
LOVE Long Beach
Justice For community
BEYOND the
HOOPS DARK urdered WSLBX Action.
LIMITS center
Children long beach LATINOS Piling People hanging lines ARTNERSHIP WomenShelter
of Long Beach Puente
Long Beach Community
Violence Intervention
& Prevention Initiative
SESIÓN DE PLÁTICAS DE
VIOLENCIA EN SU
COMUNIDAD
Miércoles, 20 de
Acompáñanos para una sesión de
pláticas para tener conversaciones Septiembre de 2023
sobre la violencia, la seguridad y
los recursos en la ciudad de Long 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Beach.
Church One Ministries
Su voz es importante y debe ser 700 E 70th St.
central en las soluciones de
Long Beach, CA 90805
violencia en la comunidad y
iniciativas de prevención.
Información adicional sobre este
Si tiene preguntas, evento gratuito:
por favor comuníquese con:
• Estacionamiento proporcionado
Email: [email protected], or • Bebidas y comida incluida [email protected] • Sorteos de oportunidad
Phone: (562) 612-4180 Ext. 1018
cucaron de
CAM
Dignity Health. United INTERVAL HOUSE
St. Mary Medical Center Cambodian Success in
Educated Men with Meaningful Messages Community Crisis Shelters & Centers for Victims of Domestic Violence Families in Good Health Challenges
LOVE Long Beach
Justice For communiti
BEYOND HOOPS DARK the LeETO
urdered WSLBX Action
LIMITS cente
Children long beach LATINOS PARTNERSHIP
WomenShelter
Hening Ponie monina na
of Long Beach Puente