Over the past two years, our lives have been completely upended by COVID. This virus decimated our communities, particularly our most vulnerable, as months turned into years and ripped families and our neighborhoods apart. It’s been well documented that during this time more community violence in Chicago erupted.
During the latest COVID variant in December 2021, Chicago had nearly 800 homicides and more than 3,500 shootings — a 60% increase in homicides and a nearly 10% increase in shootings since 2019 — the most recorded in over a quarter-century. But what’s been lost in this discussion surrounding community violence in Chicago has been a focus on how we move forward. Now that we appear to be turning the page on this pandemic, we must commit to addressing the violence that is plaguing our communities. And if we want to be successful, we must commit to addressing this challenge comprehensively.
For far too long gun violence has been dealt with after the fact — cracking down on the shooters and supporting the victims after tragedy occurs. But to protect families and create real change, it is pivotal that we take action before violence erupts, mitigating the likelihood that any event takes place. We must get ahead of situations that threaten the lives of individuals instead of just dealing with the aftermath.
Protecting Chicago’s people begins with doubling down on methods of mitigation that have worked in the past. Violence intervention and prevention services are proven to make our streets safer. However, intervention alone is not enough. We need a holistic approach that includes mental health support, youth leadership development, workforce development and continued educational, social, emotional and professional services. Together, they are exponentially impactful for youth and lead to healthier futures.
We know that providing mental health services to those affected by trauma can help in their recovery to become a productive member of their community. Uplifting young people and encouraging open, honest discussion amongst adults reduces aggressive behavior. If we can help a young person find a job, we know that they’re less likely to commit an act of community violence. And we know that by providing mentoring opportunities and leadership development skills, we are helping to ensure young people stay out of the system because of the network of support we can provide.
Thanks to our work, our community has already seen the benefits of mentorship, mediation and positive community engagement. North Lawndale, our home community among those citywide where we operate, has actually shown a decline in recent months in shootings compared to the city at large. In February of this year, there were 22 shootings in North Lawndale compared to 67 shootings in the same month last year, a nearly 68% reduction. And as a result, many children and families are now living more stable and safer lives. We’ve prioritized their well-being, addressed trauma, reduced youth participation in crime and violence, and improved academic engagement and success.
This success can only be attributed to the generosity of our supporters. Over the past five years, we’ve raised $21 million from our friends and neighbors to scale our services. With this money, we’ve been able to escalate our involvement, building stronger families, educating and empowering youth, healing trauma and preventing community violence. Now more than ever, as individuals continue to feel incredibly unsafe during such uncertain times, providing communities with resources to mitigate violence is crucial in continuing to protect those who are unable to protect themselves.
This capital will be key in maintaining and expanding violence prevention services in North Lawndale and eventually all across Chicago. Everyone has a right to feel safe and it is only through funding wraparound services that support the whole person we can mitigate violence and ensure our city is on its best track forward.
Creating lasting change occurs with persistence and dedication, which is ingrained in everything UCAN does. Just like North Lawndale is benefitting, all other communities should be offered the same opportunities to achieve their full potential. By consistently investing in, creating and providing life-changing experiences and opportunities for the most disadvantaged populations, we can guarantee safer futures for generations to come.
Now, after two years of living through the worst that this pandemic has to offer, it’s prime time to get our communities back on track. That starts with a comprehensive approach to community violence prevention.
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Christa Hamilton is the president and CEO of UCAN Chicago, a 150-plus-year-old nonprofit organization that is helping the city with community violence prevention services.
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