A community-centered approach to save lives
The current approach to gun violence is failing
Already in 2022, Chicagoans have lost children, parents, and grandparents to gun violence. Families throughout Chicago are at a breaking point.
Our current Office of Violence Reduction was a step in the right direction. But in the current crisis, we need more. We need a comprehensive long-term plan to address gun violence - and a permanent office to implement that plan with community input and accountability.
745
people were killed with a gun in 2021
Black people were victims of more than 80% of homicides in 2021
Chicago needs a comprehensive, community-centered plan to end gun violence and a permanent office to tackle the issue from the ground up.
What a new Office of Gun Violence would do?
The new Office of Gun Violence Prevention will:
Create a comprehensive, long-term plan to address violence
Convene an advisory board led by experts, community leaders, and survivors of gun violence, to provide strategic direction, oversight, and accountability for progress on the plan
Have procurement power to provide the resources necessary in communities to address gun violence
Ensure a cohesive strategy across City agencies to leverage the full power of the City to address violence
For years, community members have advocated for this office to be established through an ordinance. The goal of the ordinance is to create community accountability, long-term, and sustainable solutions, give the office grant-making power, and assurance that this office is not subject to be dissolved due to political priorities.
This office must be established by ordinance and have a minimum budget of $100M.