Charles Shannon Community Safety Initiative
In November 2006, MAPC's Metro Mayors Coalition hosted its second Community Safety Summit. More than 150 people attended the event and discussed statewide innovative youth violence prevention and law enforcement strategies that were funded by the Senator Charles Shannon Community Safety Initiative.
Background on the Community Safety Summit
In October 2005, MAPC and its Metro Mayors Coalition hosted the first Community Safety Summit, a gathering to discuss new ways to increase community safety in the Commonwealth. Over 100 mayors, police chiefs, human service professionals, district attorneys and legislators gathered to promote new public safety initiatives, including the Senator Charles Shannon Community Safety Initiative. Many youth violence prevention providers and law enforcement professionals met for the first time, and formed the relationships that make the Shannon Community Safety Initiative a success.
Charles Shannon Community Safety Initiative
The Challenge
The Metro Boston region is experiencing increased gang activity, particularly related to violent crimes, graffiti, and drug dealing among youth. Sharing borders and similar geographies, and with criss-crossing public transit routes and roadways, there is heavy and easy movement of people in and out of these communities for gang activities.
With documented gang activity and youth violence across the region, MAPC's Metro Mayors Coalition is focused on the unique challenge of perpetrators crossing municipal boundaries and impacting neighboring cities, on the streets and in community gathering places. As is the case with any mobile challenge affecting multiple communities, the only solution is through regional collaboration and coordination.
The Initiative's Goal: To increase community safety by reducing gang and youth violence, through the collaboration of youth violence prevention, workforce development and law enforcement professionals in 10 Metro Boston cities.
Metro Mayors Shannon Community Safety Participants
- City of Cambridge
- Center for Teen Empowerment
- City of Chelsea
- City of Everett
- City of Malden
- City of Medford
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council
- City of Melrose
- City of Quincy
- City of Revere
- Revere Cares
- ROCA, Inc.
- City of Somerville
- Town of Winthrop
Project Partners
- Chelsea ASAP
- City of Boston
- Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA)
- Community Action Agency of Somerville
- Department of Youth Services
- Jordan Boys and Girls Club
- Medford Health Matters
- Melrose Alliance Against Violence
- Northeastern University Institute on Race and Justice
- Southern Essex Coalition
Activities
Youth Violence Prevention
- ROCA Key Program: Transitional Employment for at-risk youth
- After-School Programs during high risk times
- Workforce Development: Hiring youth to be leaders
- ROCA Circles Training : Method of communication and problem solving from the aboriginal and native traditions used in relationship development, healing, community building and restorative justice efforts.
- Organizing Communities Into Action
- Monthly Themes
- Community-based Meetings
- Prevention Leaders Meetings
- Regional Resource Book
Coordinated Law Enforcement
- Metropolitan Anti-gang Violence Regional Enforcement Coalition
- Local Targeted Enforcement Operations
Contact Sean Caron at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for further information about the Metro Mayors Coalition's Shannon Grant activities.
BACK TO TOP |
