On April 14, 2026 violence prevention leaders, law enforcement, elected officials, and youth from across the Commonwealth gathered at the Massachusetts State House for the annual Community Safety Day on the Hill event, advocating for increased and sustainable funding of the Senator Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) and the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI). The event was organized by MAPC.
The Shannon CSI grant program, supported through the state’s annual budget and administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research, takes a multi-disciplinary approach to address youth violence. It offers services in intervention, prevention, enforcement, prosecution, and reintegration, targeting youth and young adults ages 10 to 24. Similarly, the SSYI, managed by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, applies a public health model to engage and support young people ages 17-24 in an effort to improve outcomes through case management and service delivery.
At the event, attendees were grateful to be joined by Secretary of Public Safety and Security Gina Kwon, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Adrian Madaro, Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy, and three panels of youth participants from Worcester partner Legendary Legacies, as well as MAPC’s Metro Mayor’s partners Somerville Teen Empowerment, and Mystic Valley YMCA. Additionally, Renee Contreras of the Shannon CSI statewide research partner team shared key findings from the 2025 site briefs.
In 2025:
- Over 24,300 youth were served through Shannon programs
- Over 14,000 youth participated in youth development programs with Shannon funding
- Over 46,000 community members attended community events
- There were 146 organizational parters across 15 sites
- There was an average of $148.70 invested per youth in education or employment efforts
MAPC strongly urges the Legislature to increase Shannon Grant program funding to $13.4 million in the FY27 budget. These dollars are critical to support youth across the Commonwealth and will allow partner sites to reach even more youth. MAPC is grateful to our Legislative Champions, Senator DiDomenico and Representative Madaro, for advocating for this program and filing budget amendments to ensure full funding for this program.
MAPC coordinates the Metro Mayors Shannon CSI site’s funded initiatives across 19 partners in nine Boston-area communities, bridging gaps between youth, law enforcement, and violence prevention leaders. The Metro Mayors Shannon CSI funds a range of activities, from hotspot patrols and after-school programs to job training and mental health counseling.
We know that each participant in these programs have their own unique experiences and voices. We want to highlight an original song and video made by Rarari 300: “Paper Trails”. This original song and video shares his experiences and was made with support from Shannon Partner 18 Degrees Pittsfield. Check out the song and video here: https://youtu.be/i60oxL5FUvc?si=idFz6pWBSBrmk8NX
Established in 2006, the Shannon CSI was a result of collaboration between the Metro Mayors Coalition and the Legislature to combat youth violence, gang activity, and substance use disorders. The program’s success in fostering regional, multi-disciplinary efforts to address these issues has garnered national recognition.
Action Item: Currently, the House of Representatives is considering amendments to the FY27 annual budget. Representative Adrian Madaro has filed amendment #1621 to restore Shannon Grant funding to $13.4 million for FY27. Please use this template to contact your Representatives and ask them to support this amendment.
