Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program

Advance Peace Lansing/Ingham Peacemaker Fellowship in Lansing, Michigan

In response to increasing firearm violence in Lansing, Michigan, the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) is seeking $1 million to partner with the City of Lansing, the Ingham County Health Department, the Lansing Police Department, the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, Advance Peace, and local community partners over a 3-year period to establish the Advance Peace, Lansing/Ingham Peacemaker Fellowship.

Advance Peace is an evidence-based crime prevention strategy that has been identified by President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland as a model to be replicated. The goals of the Peacemaker Fellowship are to 1) provide intensive case management services and supports to 50 youth and young adults who are at highest risk of perpetrating or being victims of firearm violence and 2) reduce violent crimes in Census Track 37 by 40 percent. To accomplish these goals, Fellowship Neighborhood Change Agents will conduct daily street outreach in targeted neighborhood hotspots to engage youth and young adults in the Peacemaker Fellowship. Fellowship members will be provided with an array of research-based services, including case management, referrals to mental health services, intergenerational mentoring, transformative travel, and paid internships.

This will be a $2 million initiative; a total of $902,000 has also been committed by other partners (Ingham County, City of Lansing, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and the Lansing Housing Commission) to support the Peacemaker Fellowship. The target neighborhood for the Peacemaker Fellowship is in a qualified opportunity zone located in the southwest district of Lansing that comprises the South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. corridor in Census Tract 37. This area is in the 48911-zip code. The target population for this program are individuals ages 10 to 24 who have been identified as the perpetrators of gun violence. The City of Lansing has also expended $380,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to erect a youth football stadium and town square in this area.

The application includes a letter of support from the United States Attorney’s Office and other key stakeholders and is also being supported with a Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. If awarded, a full-time Project Coordinator will be hired to ensure the success of the Peacemaker Fellowship. Project metrics will be monitored and evaluated by the Center for Culturally Responsive Engagement at MPHI to assess and address crime trends in targeted hotspot area.