Nonviolent Solutions to Community-Based Violence in Minneapolis

Nonviolent Peaceforce is seeking a Planning and Implementation grant to create a Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Community Initiative in North Minneapolis. This initiative is supported by a research partnership and includes compensation for community time and materials. Key Activities include; a community violence assessment including historical, current, and proposed strategies by community partners, the formalization of a community coalition, customized community training in Unarmed Civilian Protection Strategies that are trauma and evidence-informed, the use of trusted community messengers to shift the narrative about safety and facilitated access to trauma informed mental health services and UCP living wages jobs for community residents. Projected outcomes include that community members report increased skills in nonviolent conflict management (home, school, neighborhood), community conversations about safety include more reference to and understanding of Nonviolent and Relationship-based community approaches, North Minneapolis youth gain skills and connection across the community to increase access to employment, trauma services, and positive recreation activities, and there is an increase in the number of community members reporting feeling safe at events and in community. The ultimate goal of this initiative is a reduction in the use of violence to resolve conflicts, a reduction in the number of gang-suspected shootings in North Minneapolis and an improvement in the relationship between the police and the community.