CeaseFire

for creating a community-based
violence reduction effort in Chicago

CeaseFire is an antiviolence initiative of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention. Based at the University of Illinois’ Department of Public Health, CeaseFire treats gun violence as a public health problem, and fights it by trying to change both individual and community behavior. Working with community-based organizations, and with local ministers and leaders, they organize neighborhood marches, rallies and vigils after shootings. CeaseFire focuses on street-level outreach, conflict mediation and changing community norms to decrease violence.

At the heart of CeaseFire’s work is high-risk conflict mediation involving outreach workers and ‘violence interrupters’. These streetwise individuals are familiar with gang life, and use their connections to change the attitudes and behaviors of high-risk youth – helping to quell conflicts before they escalate to violence.

The community in Chicago where CeaseFire was launched experienced a 67% drop in crime within the first year.  Since then, CeaseFire has spread to other communities in Chicago, throughout Illinois, and across the United States.

Accepting the Common Ground Award for CeaseFire is Tio Hardiman, director of CeaseFire Illinois. Mr. Hardiman has worked for the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention since 1999.

www.ceasefirechicago.org

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