Everytown Will Also Provide Strategic Support Including Peer Convening, Capacity-Building Training, Data and Research Access and Support from Everytown’s Volunteer Networks
CLEVELAND — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund (CSF), part of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced $40,000 in funding for Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance (CPA) to sustain their work and better position them to access federal funding. This grant is part of a $600,000 investment in 15 existing gun violence intervention organizations from cities across the nation. The investment includes $40,000 sustainer grants to three women-led nonprofit organizations committed to reducing gun violence in their communities. Since its 2019 inception, the Everytown Community Safety Fund has granted $10.6 million in support of 117 community-based violence intervention organizations implementing promising strategies, like street outreach, hospital-based violence interventions and youth development and counseling, in more than 67 American cities.
Under leadership of executive director Myesha Watkins, Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance partners with volunteers and other outreach programs to provide community-led prevention, intervention and restoration services to over 450 youth and residents throughout hospitals, court systems and after-school programs in Cleveland, Ohio. CPA also offers interactive programming, workforce assistance, safe housing, court support, safe passage and educational support.
“Community-based violence intervention programs are critical to a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence in America. Each of these organizations, led by courageous leaders who are making remarkable strides towards shaping their communities into safer places to live, are proving this daily,” said Michael-Sean Spence, senior director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and creator of the Everytown Community Safety Fund. “Although brighter days are ahead – gun violence persists and the work continues, requiring sustained support to continue our progress. The Everytown Community Safety Fund is proud to answer that call, by continuing our support of each of these impactful organizations with 2023 Sustainer grants, to help them continue their life saving efforts.”
“Having support from the Everytown Community Safety Fund allows us to provide residents with essential resources in the aftermath of gun violence,” said Myesha Watkins, executive director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance. “Through collaborative partnerships with Everytown and other local organizations, Cleveland is on a pathway to better living.”
Everytown reports that gun homicide rates in the U.S. are 26 times higher than in other developed countries. Research also shows that more than 120 Americans die daily from gun violence, and 230 individuals are shot and wounded.
About Everytown Community Safety Fund
Since 2019, the Everytown Community Safety Fund (The Fund), the largest national initiative solely dedicated to fueling the life-saving work of community-based violence intervention programs in cities nationwide, has granted $7.15 million in support of 72 community-based violence intervention organizations implementing promising strategies, like street outreach, hospital-based violence interventions, youth development and counseling in more than 57 American cities.
About The Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance
The Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance (CPA) engages community youth and program participants through case management services such as interactive programming, workforce assistance, safe housing, court support, safe passage, educational support and other community connections. Choosing to adopt a holistic focus toward violence prevention, the CPA provides community-led prevention, intervention and restoration services in hospitals, the courts, and the streets of Cleveland, Ohio.
