Philadelphia: City Awards $400K To Grassroots Programs To Reduce Gun Violence

Press release from the City of Philadelphia :

For immediate release: March 31, 2021Published by: Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Office of Violence Prevention, Office of the Mayor Contact: Dave Kinchen dave.kinchen@phila.gov

PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia today announced the third round of grants for its Targeted Community Investment Grant (TCIG) program which provides community-based organizations funding for programs and services that prevent and reduce gun violence.

Thirty community groups received a combined total of approximately $400,000 in funding. The programs being funded include both new and existing efforts in career skill-building, mentorship, sports leagues, and help for returning citizens to reconnect to their communities.

This third round of TCIG funding extends access to trauma-informed care for those touched by violence, expands grief support programming for impacted families, and provides training for young adults to become positive role models in their neighborhoods. The funding also directly supports workshops and “safe spaces” for young men who are at the highest risk of gun violence.

The grant application process, which opened on November 10th of 2020 and closed December 4th, brought in more than 220 applications, from which 30 awardees were chosen. The individual grants, ranging from $1,500 to $20,000, will support programs in neighborhoods impacted by violent crime to help prevent or reduce shootings among youth and young adults living in these communities.

“Data tells us that the best solutions to stemming gun violence are often located right in the neighborhoods impacted by it the most,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “These grants support community-led grassroots programs striving to give young people, and others at risk of gun violence, positive social and enrichment opportunities that can lead to prevention. I look forward to their continued partnership with the City as we work together to address this crisis.”

These awards have been a key initiative of The Philadelphia Roadmap to Safer Communities, and advance the updated Roadmap’s goals of creating: Connected & Thriving Youth, Young Adults & Families; Strong Community Engagement & Partnerships; Coordinated City Services & Planning; and Safe & Healthier Neighborhoods. This third round of funding brings the total invested by the TCIG program to about $2 million.

During the selection process, preference was given to organizations that are focused on the educational and/or employment needs of individuals at a high risk of violence between the ages of 16 and 34. Those who applied were asked to give a specific description of the program or activity to be funded, along with an explanation of how it will help prevent or reduce gun violence in the community, a budget that clearly shows how the funds will be used, and how success will be measured.

“We have to invest in communities in order to reduce violence, for far too long grassroots organizations have lacked access to critical resources. Hopefully as we continue these grants, we will see our neighborhoods grow stronger and safer.” said Erica Atwood, Senior Director of the Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

The following grantee biographies are organized by how their services benefit their communities in the categories of: Addressing Health and Wellness, Job Training and Skill Building.

*Note: Many of these organizations overlap with multiple categories based on their services and supports.

Addressing Health and WellnessAddressing Health and WellnessAddressing Health and WellnessAddressing Health and WellnessAddressing Health and Wellness

Recipient Name
Organization Affiliation
Initiative Title
Amount and Initiative Description
Award Amount

Angenique Howard
Unique Dreams, Inc
Juvenile & Adult Justice Transitional Services (JAJS) Program
This program focuses on individuals involved in the legal system. It works by combining case management and therapeutic service to create safe spaces to share experiences, learn avenues of opportunity and gain job readiness skills.

$18,000

Carmel Brown
DeepSpaceMind215 Cooperative
The Young Futurist Series
This project will encourage a dialogue about the intersection of mental health and anti-LGBTQ+ violence. It will include a queer youth-led dialogue about mental health and gun violence with workshops supporting self-care, mental health advocacy skills and violence prevention resources.
$5,000

Chantay Love
EMIR Healing Center
We Live Project
This program focuses on healing those with trauma related to gun violence. It works to create a safe place through workshops that focus on wellness, self-care, self-esteem, emotional maturity, and lifestyle management.
$18,000

Jennifer Lawson
Philadelphia Obituary Project
Writing Heals
This project uses creative writing to address intergenerational trauma that families of gun violence victims experience by expressing thoughts, feelings, and memories.
$10,000

Joseph Purnell
Neighborhood United Against Drugs
2021 NUAD Barber Shop Violence Prevention Risk Reduction Intervention
This project targets young men at risk of gun violence by implementing a group level intervention that promotes a sense of community and conflict resolution hosted in local barber shops.
$13,000

Loretta Payne
Philly Thrive
The Circle for Common Good
This project focuses on community healing using group meetings and workshops to discuss positive supports and strengths young people need to thrive. The workshops will also focus on relationship building and wellness.
$10,000

Lynnette Anderson
Lynnette C. Anderson, LLC
THINK Instead
This project works to improve public safety and build a stronger sense of community by identifying those who would strongly benefit from anger management, social skills, and problem-solving workshops. Also, it will incorporate community service activities.
$13,000

Shakeya Johnson
N/A
Building Healthy Communities from within Families
This program consists of activities that educate families and empower parents to support children through social emotional skill building, healthy choices, academics, and mental wellness.
$15,000

Teisha Brown
Power of Paint Art Academy & Management
Paint Greater Than Initiative
The program works to connect the community by using art and wellness activities to promote self-awareness, social responsibility, safety, and mental health.
$13,000

Job Training and Skill BuildingJob Training and Skill BuildingJob Training and Skill BuildingJob Training and Skill BuildingJob Training and Skill Building

Recipient Name
Organization Affiliation
Initiative Title
Initiative Description
Award Amount

Oshunbumi Fernandez-West
I AM BUMI
Hair Business 101
This program will teach youth and young adults the fundamentals of creating, operating, and maintaining their own hair products business.
$12,000

Daniel Anderson
Reignite Philly
Reignite Philly
This program provides support to adults through life skill development by teaching welding and fabrication techniques.
$10,300

Ebonie Dukes
MyNEWPhilly
Digital Media Incubator
This program hosts a series of activities and workshops that train participants to obtain self-sustaining careers in the media and entertainment industry, while also teaching tools for financial independence.
$13,800

Jackie Cook
Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia
Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia Violence Prevention and Workforce Development Program
This program empowers youth to problem solve, self-reflect, and develop healthy coping mechanisms, while also providing jobs to teens involved in the workforce development program.
$12,600

Jasmine Hawkins
Urgent 365, Inc.
College Chats and Life After High School
These sessions focus on post-secondary supports that target those who have graduated within the last four years through educational programming, professional development, network building, and resource distribution.
$10,000

Matthew Kerr
Beyond the Bars
Interrupting the School to Prison Pipeline at Every Phase of the Pipeline
This project uses music to offer safe spaces for youth impacted by gun violence. It supports self-expression through song writing, composition, and recording.
$13,000

Rickey Duncan
NOMO Inc.
New Options More Opportunity
This program promotes comprehensive services for young people at risk of violence. This includes career readiness training, counseling, academic and other supports.
$18,000

Tracey Anderson
Philly Mentoring Network
Young Entrepreneur’s Program (YEP)
This program supports families by hosting workshops and activities to teach skills in entrepreneurship, public speaking and presentation, and financial literacy. Also, it will share violence prevention resources and refer participants to social service resources.
$10,000

Promoting Education and MentorshipPromoting Education and MentorshipPromoting Education and MentorshipPromoting Education and MentorshipPromoting Education and Mentorship

Recipient Name
Organization Affiliation
Initiative Title
Initiative Description
Award Amount

Aisha Drayton
I’s Vision
I’s Vision
This program offers a series of activities for youth and young adults that consist of financial literacy, college prep and real-estate workshops, weekly mentorship and outreach and volunteer opportunities.
$15,000

Ben Reiter
Beat the Streets Philadelphia
Beat the Streets Philadelphia
This is a case-management driven program that engages youth in mentorship and leadership development training while using wrestling to promote health and wellness.
$13,000

Carl Day
Culture Changing Christians
Castoffs to Conquerors
This comprehensive program supports the development of male youth at a high risk of violence through mentorship, offering life skills and spiritual development, and opportunities for community service.
$18,000

Clyde Russell
Making Men, Inc.
Brother to Brother – Rites of Passage
This project will connect participants to educational, mentoring, and professional development opportunities through trainings. It will promote conflict resolution strategies.
$15,000

Joel Austin
Daddy University
The Father’s Club
This program offers men’s parenting classes to promote positive behavior, choices, and attitudes by utilizing skills training on health and wellness, relationship, life skill development, and more.
$10,000

Kevan Turman
The Brothers Brunch, Inc.
The “Off the Muscle” Module – Same Muscle…Different Hustle
This project will consist of mentorship and curriculum focused on life skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.
$13,000

Tyrone Morris
Committed Community Mentors
Safe Space @ Committed Community Mentors
This program promotes community wellness, business development, athletic activities, transformative mentoring, and artistic experiences through a trauma-informed lens.
$18,000

Sustaining Safe NeighborhoodsSustaining Safe NeighborhoodsSustaining Safe NeighborhoodsSustaining Safe NeighborhoodsSustaining Safe Neighborhoods

Recipient Name
Organization Affiliation
Initiative Title
Initiative Description
Award Amount

Andrew Walker
Red Dragon Red Tiger Combatant Martial Arts Association
Kicks Up! Guns Down!
This project will introduce community to martial arts to encourage self- discipline, self-control, and respect for all. It will host workshops and community events to encourage conflict resolution strategies.
$7,300

Jim Hardy
Philadelphia Community Empowerment Through Soccer
Youth Soccer, Leadership Development, Civic Engagement and Social Work
This program supports youth and young adults who serve as teen soccer coaches and supervisors while learning skills related to employment, leadership, and conflict resolution. Participants are provided case management services. This program promotes community engagement through violence prevention events.
$13,000

Michael Johnson
Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church
Turn in a Gun, and Save Our Families
This organization will partner with police, community stalk holders and faith-based community to host a series of gun buy backs to promote gun safety.
$15,000

Stanley Crawford
Black Male Community Council of Philadelphia
BMCCP Boots on the Ground
This group focuses on transforming high crime neighborhoods by recruiting men and women of color to conduct community clean ups and to strengthen community partnerships, while also promoting public safety and resource distribution.
$18,000

Steven Pickens
PHILLY TRUCE
TRUCE
This program uses technology to recruit, train and disburse meditators to settle altercations, disagreements and/or conflicts in a respectful and safe approach.
$15,000

Tyrique Glasgow
Young Chances Foundation
Community Engagement Center
The center provides free access to a range of needed services including GED classes, job readiness programming, laundry services, meals, and childcare.
$15,000

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This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author’s own.