PURPOSE AND GOALS
The purpose and the role of the COALITION AGAINST VIOLENCE is to identify and facilitate the implementation of strategies and initiatives addressing the issues of violence and crime that plague many of the neighborhoods and communities throughout the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The coalition is committed to boldly and actively supporting as well as collaborating with organizations, agencies, initiatives, and programs already working quietly and diligently to help reduce violence.
THE DOCUMENT
In 2008 the Coalition Against Violence began its implementation phase and began forming partnerships with educational institutions, government agencies, community-based organizations, media organizations, communities of faith, and others. Moreover, in 2010, through the auspices of The Pittsburgh Foundation, the organization hired its first Community Liaison. As a result of a series of strategic meetings, the coalition changed its name to The Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence. And most significantly, the Working Group on Implementation has produced this second edition of Strategies for Change: Building More Peaceful Communities.
HOW CAV STARTED
On Thursday, February 8, 2007, the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and One HOOD responded to the alarming report that Pennsylvania led the nation in homicide rates for African Americans in a standing-room-only news conference in the lobby of the James F. Henry Hill House Center. They were joined by numerous community and religious leaders, the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, and other area politicians. As a result of the news conference, members of the community were brought together to form the COALITION AGAINST VIOLENCE, a broad-based coalition consisting of community and religious leaders, police, representatives from education and government institutions, and concerned citizens of Allegheny County. The coalition now stands as an independent anti-violence collaborative with some administrative support from the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP).
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
AMACHI PITTSBURGH
Working alongside Amachi Pittsbrugh, B-PEP has widened the exposure of its Strategies for Change curriculum to the students of Amachi Pittsburgh's after-school mentorship program as well as within the halls of Westinghouse Highschool.
CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
