Invest in Youth – Local and national budgets do not reflect a solid investment in youth.  Data shows that investing in youth decreases gun violence.   We can do this by fostering more partnerships between local, county, state and federal government and those who are on the ground doing the work.  We must help scale small organizations, who can often reach their youth, but they do not the resources to scale and sustain the work.   Corporations should be a part of this process, and part of all dollars made on teens should be invested back in building teens up. 

 

Invest in Reentry – When individuals are released, they received $200 and little resources, which has fueled a 75% recidivism rate. We must invest in rehabilitation prior to release, that focused on mental health, economics and housing.   The cost to continue the never ending cycle to prison, is much higher than rehabilitation.  DATA shows that a young man, who a father in Jail has a 60% higher chance of going to Jail.   Investing in those who have paid their dues to society, is a small economic decision for our community, a wise safety decision both directly and indirectly because of the affects of ensuring the family stays together. 

 

Trauma Based Education – Increase trauma based education to provide more support for youth, which will cut the cradle to prison pipeline.   

 

Diversity Training – Race has fueled crime overall and homicide. Education on race and religion should start at home and in schools. 

 

Workforce Development –  Work all developments in local cities to ensure that the communities are that suffering from gun violence due to the lack of opportunity, are on the job sites.