Anti-Violence Working Group

Background

The Anti-Violence Working Group will consist of a diverse group of Somerville residents, advocates, non-profits, and subject-matter experts. The group will collaborate closely with experts from the Urban Peace Institute to address the City's most pressing safety concerns - including gun, gang, and domestic violence - and propose policy recommendations that address those concerns in 2023.

Guided in part by experts from the Urban Peace Institute, the Anti-Violence Working Group will collectively focus on community engagement and responsiveness in its work, policy proposals, and impact.

At the heart of their work, the Anti-Violence Working Group will consider critical community perspectives, data, and expert guidance to tailor policy proposals and recommendations that put forth programmatic and systematic solutions that not only intervene to reduce violence but ultimately seek to combat root causes of violence in Somerville.

Mission, Vision, & Purpose

Mission: To bring together the broad voices and lived experiences of the City of Somerville and its constituents to develop a socially equitable and safe community by implementing policies, programs, and initiatives that collectively promote peace while preventing, intervening, and reducing violence.

Vision: That the City of Somerville will be an interconnected community where members feel empowered and dignified. The Somerville community will be knowledgeable and have access to resources that increase safety.

Purpose: The Anti-Violence Working Group seeks to target the root causes of violence while supporting those who are affected by the ongoing impacts of violence including psychological trauma, economic suppression, community breakdown, and other long-term consequences. The Working Group aims to proactively and collaboratively develop evidence-based strategies and accountability measures that would uniquely address trust and safety concerns within the City of Somerville.

Members

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Materials

UPI Info Session: Somerville's Department of Racial and Social Justice hosted this live info session with representatives from the Urban Peace Institute on May 25, 2023. Topics discussed included information about Somerville's Anti-Violence Working Group, prior work conducted by the Urban Peace Institute, and a community Q&A.
 

Working Group Updates

Fall 2024 Update

The Anti-Violence Working Group is finalizing the content of their recommendations following trainings and conversations with guest speakers and City staff. The Department of Racial and Social Justice looks forward to releasing the recommendations of the Anti-Violence Working Group by December 2024.