The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation established the Creating Safe, Equitable & Thriving Communities Fund in 2018 through a partnership with the City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, and the Cedar Rapids Community School District to address inter-relational factors that lead to youth violence in Cedar Rapids. It funds programs that approach systemic causes of economic, racial, and academic disparities and aims to avoid, reduce, or stop high risk behaviors that can lead to involvement with the criminal justice system. 
Announcing 2021 SET-Funded Programs
The Board of Directors of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation recently approved $200,000 in grants to five organizations from the Creating Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities (SET) Fund. The Fund has made over $360,000 in grants since its inception. The Foundation sought applications that address youth (up to age 25) and adult development of skills, resilience, and resources to avoid, reduce, or stop high risk behaviors that can lead to involvement with the criminal justice system, community capacity to prevent violence and systemic causes of economic, racial, and academic disparities. The grant committee reviewed 15 funding requests totaling $630,750 and recommended funding the following five projects:
Central City Development Corporation (“Central City” does not refer to the Linn County town of the same name) - Community Hope and Transformation (C.H.A.T.)                
This year-long, collaborative project will engage youth and families in creative, therapeutic, and research-based programming that is rooted in the restorative philosophical approaches of Ubuntu, Mitakuye Oyasin, and Sankofa. Project partners will continually seek ways to build community, navigate conflict, and repair relational harm that has been caused. This project will provide opportunities to create a sense of belonging for youth and families impacted the most by gun violence and will strategically coordinate regular interagency and stakeholder communication/collaboration throughout Linn County to enhance wrap-around services and support. This project will maximize the existing community partnerships and social media infrastructure developed through the ReSET 2020 Challenge.

Foundation 2, Inc. - Targeted Violence Prevention for Young Adults
Foundation 2 will hire a Community Outreach Worker dedicated to providing wrap-around services and outreach to young people. The Community Outreach Worker will be a credible messenger who has the background and ability to build rapport and trusted relationships with participants to connect, remove barriers, and empower young people who are at risk to participate in group violence. The Community Outreach Worker will engage with high-risk participants and their caregivers (if applicable). The participant and outreach worker will work on coaching through conflict and challenges, connecting with wrap-around services, and engaging in prosocial activities to reduce the incidence of high-risk behavior that could lead to violence and criminal justice involvement.
 
LBA Foundation - Choose to Change Program
LBA Foundation will model the highly effective Choose to Change program run in Chicago and vetted by the University of Chicago through a partnership with Tanager, Waypoint and the 6th Judicial District. This pilot proposal will connect high-risk youth with weekly one-on-one mentorship, counseling sessions with a therapist, and group counseling sessions.
 
Tanager Place - S.O.S.: Saving Our Sisters
Saving Our Sisters (S.O.S.) will serve high school age girls that are becoming involved with groups committing violence in the community. It will provide opportunities to develop positive relationships and see opportunity for their future. The program will consist of regular programming as well as a group of volunteers that will act as a first point of contact for the girls. Activities will be centered around building relationships with positive role models and helping girls understand their full potential.

Wellington Heights Community Church - Neighborhood Engagement Program
The Wellington Heights Neighborhood Engagement Program will deploy a street outreach team, provide community listening sessions and peace walks to promote peace in the Wellington Heights neighborhood. The program will actively engage "the streets" of Wellington Heights to reach individuals who are at high-risk for violence. The program will work to build mutual trust, open communication, and create space for community buy-in. Key youth and families will be identified and invested in, with the hope that one day they can be empowered to promote peace in the neighborhood.
Group Violence Intervention Model Launched in Cedar Rapids
GVI University
On November 12 and 13, more than 30 community leaders, members of law enforcement, and social service providers came together for a two-day workshop—the local launch of Group Violence Intervention (GVI), an evidence-based approach to violence reduction developed by the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC). GVI is being implemented in Cedar Rapids through the work of the Creating Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities (SET) Fund. Earlier this year, the SET Fund was awarded a $465,000 grant to support its work in reducing youth violence in Cedar Rapids, including the new partnership with NNSC. 
Overview of the Group Violence Intervention (GVI)
Serious violence in the United States is concentrated in historically disadvantaged communities of color, and particularly among young men in those communities. The Group Violence Intervention (GVI)—known by various names, including “Operation Ceasefire”—has the strongest record of preventing such violence. The strategy is based on a set of core facts: Most people in those communities are not at high risk for either victimization or offending. A small number of identifiable street groups drive the violence, and the people in them face extraordinary risk and trauma. The most common law enforcement approaches to violence prevention don’t work well on this small, special population – even strong law enforcement agencies aren’t satisfied with their impact on group-involved violence, and at worst, some of the nation’s most-used tactics may actually cause communities harm and make violence dynamics worse. Community distrust of law enforcement—based on historical harms, over-enforcement, and disrespect—stands in the way of violence prevention efforts.
 
Problem Analysis
Mid-December 2020, NNSC completed the GVI data gathering for the problem analysis of serious violence dynamics in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a key precursor to formally beginning implementation of the Group Violence Intervention. Qualitative information has been gathered through structured methods with frontline practitioners—such as police officers, probation and parole officers, and line prosecutors with deep day-to-day knowledge of violence dynamics in the city. NNSC and this cohort worked together to discuss basic questions to guide policy formulation as well as GVI operations.
  • What is the context in which violent incidents occur?
  • Are victims and offenders known to practitioners before violent events?
  • Do victims and offenders participate in street groups, drug crews, or other kinds of highly active groups?
  • How many such groups exist, where are they active, and what are their relationships with each other?
  • Who are the individuals in these groups, and which of them are most violent or otherwise influential?

Looking Ahead
In the months ahead, stakeholders will reconvene to review the status of work so far, set goals for implementation, and agree on timeline for the city’s first call-in. Call-ins are a key GVI communication tool; a call-in is a meeting during which a partnership of law enforcement, community members, and social service providers delivers the no-violence message to group members and, through them, back to their associates. The strategy entails other methods of notification, but the call-in is its traditional communication mechanism. The partnership usually holds the call-in in a place of civic importance, and it ideally lasts about one hour. To learn more about call-ins and the overall GVI strategy visit NNSC.org.
Partnership Highlight
A Message from Linn County Public Health
Representatives from Linn County Public Health had the opportunity to attend the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) University held on November 12 and 13. As leaders of the Together! Healthy Linn initiative, which focuses on community health assessment and improvement, Linn County Public Health is committed to supporting activities that positively impact Linn County’s top health priorities, including safety. Many of the characteristics of the GVI model align with commonly supported public health initiatives, such as being research-based, action-oriented, and focused on leveraging community partnerships. LCPH is looking forward to continued alignment and streamlining of community violence prevention efforts, and is excited to support leaders stepping forward in a variety of ways, including the GVI program, to improve the health of our community
A Message from Foundation 2
Foundation 2 is pleased to announce the renamed Fostering Futures program, previously the Independent Living Program. We believe that the new name better encompasses our work to support young adults who have aged out of foster care reach and maintain stability as independent adults, including in the areas of employment, education, housing, transportation, and more. The Iowa Aftercare Network and Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP) services previously provided under the Independent Living Program will continue under Fostering Futures.


Also this spring, we are expanding Fostering Futures with the addition of an Education Advocate program and a Community Outreach program. The Education Advocate program, created by the Washington State University Vancouver, will provide additional post-secondary guidance and mentoring for 15 Linn County youth to encourage long term academic, employment, and financial stability. The Community Outreach program, funded by the Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities (SET) Fund, will provide mentoring and support for those who are at very high risk for violent victimization to interrupt the cycle of violence and retaliation. This program is not limited to those involved in the foster care system.

We look forward to launching these new programs to continue to serve young people in Linn and surrounding counties. To learn more or connect with a Fostering Futures resource, please contact Renae Koth, Fostering Futures program manager, at rkoth@foundation2.org or 319-368-3376.
Upcoming Opportunities
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Nonprofit Know-How: 2021 Grants at the Community Foundation Q & A

Monday, January 25, at 2:00 p.m.

This is an opportunity to learn more information on funding opportunities in 2021.

First Grant Cycle for 2021

Application deadline: Friday, February 12, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. CST

Grants from multiple funds will be awarded to organizations that enhance the quality of life in Linn County.

Learn more about 2021 grant programs here
SAMHSA’s GAINS Center
Provide Trauma-Informed Training

Application deadline: February 10, 2021

SAMHSA's GAINS Center is now soliciting applications from experienced trainers (individuals) who are interested in developing their capacity to provide trauma-informed training in their local agencies/communities via the How Being Trauma Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses curriculum. There will be at least two TTT events scheduled, with the possibility of a third, for April 7-8, May 5-6, and/or June 9-10. Please note the dates before applying and include your availability in the application as directed. If selected, you will be expected to attend one of these full two-day TTT events.

Self-Care for Criminal Justice Professionals Webinar

January 28, 2021, 2–3:30 p.m. ET

This webinar will present information about potential stressors faced by staff across Intercepts 3-5 and ways that agencies can support self-care as a protective factor against harmful responses to stress. Presenters will share best practices, resources, and supports that agencies and staff should be aware of to build resilience and promote self-care.

Register Now
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
Reducing Risk for Girls in the Juvenile Justice System Department of Justice

FY2021 Funding Opportunity- O-OJJDP-2021-47008
Application Closing Date: February 12th, 2021

The goal of this program is to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors for girls who come in contact with the juvenile justice system, and place them on a path toward success, stability, and long-term contribution to society.

Second Chance Act Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents and Their Minor Children

FY2021 Funding Opportunity- O-OJJDP-2021-41001

Application Closing Date: February 19, 2021

The goal of this program is to assist states and localities in developing or expanding services that meet the needs of incarcerated parents and their minor children to prevent violent crime, reduce recidivism, and provide support for minor children.

Delinquency Prevention Grants Program

FY2021 Funding Opportunity- O-OJJDP-2021-47011

Application Closing Date: March 1, 2021

The goal of this program is to support state, local, and tribal prevention efforts to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors to prevent youth at risk of becoming delinquent from entering the juvenile justice system.

Upcoming Book Study
Don't Shoot: One Man, A Street Fellowship, and the End of Violence in Inner-City America

Author: David M. Kennedy

Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
February 4 through April 22, 2021

David M. Kennedy is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY. He led the Boston Gun Project, whose “Operation Ceasefire” intervention was responsible for a 63 percent reduction in youth homicide victimization and has since been effectively implemented in numerous cities as the Group Violence Intervention (GVI). His work in Boston won the Ford Foundation Innovations in Government award; two Herman Goldstein International Awards for Problem-Oriented Policing, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Webber Seavey Award.

Facilitated by Tony Wilson of Central City Development Corporation. Please e-mail Tony at tony@centralcitydevelopmentcorporation.com to register.
Questions, comments, or ideas for future SET Newsletters, please contact:
Rachel Rockwell
SET Program Officer
319.200.4007
About the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Through professional philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation connects donors who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization with assets totaling more than $187 million and over 1,000 different charitable funds, large and small, established by individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and businesses to benefit Linn County, Iowa. Our vision: To be a trusted partner in charitable giving, improving the quality of life in our community…forever. Our mission: To help donors give in meaningful ways, to strengthen nonprofits, and to provide leadership that supports a vibrant community. For more information on the Community Foundation, visit www.gcrcf.org or visit us on Facebook. 
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