FORCE Detroit Expands Community Violence Intervention Efforts Through Ongoing Regranting Initiative


DETROIT — FORCE Detroit, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building freer, safer communities, is continuing its long-standing commitment to community violence intervention (CVI) through its regranting initiative, which provides funding and support to grassroots organizations working on the front lines of violence reduction.

Through this initiative, FORCE Detroit is regranting $235,000 to community-based organizations to support their participation in a growing coalition focused on strengthening collaboration, deepening relationships, and coordinating intervention efforts for greater impact.

Organizations that have signed Memorandums of Understanding confirming their participation in the Emerging Leaders Detroit Chapter include:

• Black Bottom Gun Club
• The Better Men Outreach Program
• Fight the Good Fight
• Kelly's Kids Foundation
• The GRND Foundation
• Motivating Inner New Dreams (M.I.N.D.S.)
• Seize The Smoke
• Detroit Life Is Valuable Everyday (DLIVE)
• Team Pursuit
• The People's Action
• Solomon & Harris Consulting

The coalition, currently referred to as the Emerging Leaders Detroit Chapter, brings together partners committed to advancing community-led strategies that interrupt, prevent, and reduce gun violence, creating a freer and safer community.

“Community violence intervention is most effective when it is led by the people closest to the work,” said Dujuan Zoe Kennedy, Executive Director of FORCE Detroit. “This initiative is about resourcing those organizations, strengthening coordination, and making sure we are aligned in how we show up for the communities we serve.”

Participating organizations will support coalition activities that include:

• Outreach and Recruitment: Engaging new partners and expanding awareness of coalition efforts
• Advocacy and Policy Work: Supporting local and state efforts to expand community violence intervention and engaging with policymakers, including participation in events such as Advocacy Day on June 10–11
• Training and Capacity Building: Participating in and promoting professional development opportunities
• Resource Mobilization: Identifying funding and resources to sustain and grow intervention efforts
• Community Engagement: Organizing and participating in events, forums, and town halls to gather input and build trust
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Supporting coordinated messaging through social and local media

The regranting initiative reflects FORCE Detroit’s broader strategy to invest in infrastructure that strengthens intervention efforts at the community level while advancing a more coordinated approach to public safety across Detroit and communities throughout Michigan.

“This work is about building something that lasts,” said Kennedy. “By investing in collaboration and community-led intervention, we are creating a stronger, more connected network that can respond to violence more effectively and sustainably.”

As the coalition continues to grow, FORCE Detroit is working to expand its reach, deepen partnerships, and ensure that community-based organizations have the resources needed to sustain and scale their work.

About FORCE Detroit

Founded in 2015, FORCE Detroit works to create freer, safer communities by preventing gun violence through community violence intervention, organizing, advocacy, and social impact. Learn more at www.forcedetroit.org