Chicago is currently suffering a massive wave of violence that concerns most residents. Thankfully there are many resources and Anti-Violence programs out there that are making a change. But not all programs are effective. Mayor Lightfoot assures residents that her methods in decreasing violence are working but not everyone thinks they are.
Candidates running for mayor believe that Lightfoot is not helping enough to decrease the violence in Chicago. Lightfoot’s defense to these claims is that Congressman Chuy Garcia is the reason there Chicago has turned into a dangerous place. “There are two defenders of the police that are on this stage. Chuy Garcia the original one — in 2011 he slashed the sheriff’s budget for adult probation and created a crisis” stated Lightfoot during the Tuesday Forum.
Anti-Violence Programs
Whether people think her methods work or not, they don’t have to depend on them. There are many other community-based Anti-Violence programs such as:
- CeaseFire Illinois.
- Center on Halsted provides counseling for victims of violence. Call (773) 871-2273.
Courtesy of Nonviolent Peaceforce (Flickr CC0) - Chicago Citizens For Change (CCC).
- Chicago Safe Start.
All of these non-profit programs are open to the public for those that are victims of violence or volunteers. The fastest way to solve problems in the community is to bring them together.
How These programs Help
The most common violent act in Chicago is gun violence. Residents have been suffering from this for many years and it is time to put a stop to it. These programs have been proven to help a lot with this. Because of Anti-Violence programs, research shows that at least 15 percent of shootings in the city have dropped. In Westside neighborhoods such as Austin and Garfield Park, violence has dropped at least 35 percent in 2022.
“The progress is even more promising in North Lawndale, showing a nearly 57 percent drop in shootings,” stated Pascal Sabino. These programs start by helping the youth and leading them through the right path. By doing so there are higher chances that these children and young adults will grow up to be good people.
“Not only do we help them heal and reframe their thinking, [but] we also give them a chance to earn income and support themselves and their families, pursue skills training with real economic opportunities,” said Jorge Matos the senior director of READI Chicago.
What Else Can We Do?
Another way to help this cause is by donating to these programs. It doesn’t have to be a great amount of money, anything will help. We can leave the big donations in the hands of the wealthy.
“The public safety improvements follow increases in state, federal and local funding for community-driven anti-violence strategies, including Gov. JB Pritzker committing $50 million this year to support violence intervention,” said Pascal Sabino. He has also said that by the year 2024, he would have donated $250 million to gun violence victims and programs.
“The people of these communities are often viewed as the problem rather than recognizing that it is the inherited conditions in which our neighbors, friends, and loved ones, live that is the problem that perpetuates this violence,” stated Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton. Helping each other is the best way to reduce crime. If we don’t care for our own community, no one will.
By Erika Cano
Sources:
Fox 32 Chicago: Chicago mayoral forum: Lightfoot’s rivals mock her claims that anti-violence plans are working
ABC 7 news: Stop the violence: Chicago youth programs, resources
Block Club Chicago: West Side Neighborhood Sees 58% Drop In Shootings Thanks To Violence Prevention Programs, Outreach Workers Say
Block Club Chicago: Violence Prevention Programs To Get $50 Million Next Year As Pritzker Calls Gun Violence A Public Health Emergency
Top and Featured image courtesy of John S. Quarterman Flickr page – Creative Commons License
Inset picture image by Tiffany Easthom courtesy of Nonviolent Peaceforce Flickr page – Creative Commons License
