First Violence Response Forum

Tomorrow the Champaign Community Coalition will be having one of its first Violence Response Forums in response to the recent shooting death of 14 year old Elijah Booker in the Garden Hills neighborhood of Champaign.

The pilot program, which is still being established has been in the works for quite some time in response to the rising amounts of gun violence locally and community input form both law enforcement and residents on how to interrupt and prevent more harm. From the News-Gazette coverage of the last Community Coalition meeting:

Champaign Community Coalition fighting gun violence with forums
After months of preparation, the Champaign Community Coalition announced Wednesday it will start a pilot program to hold neighborhood forums no more than 36 hours after a shooting.

Coalition facilitator Tracy Parsons told a packed house at the Champaign Public Library that they should "not allow a takeover" of the Countrybrook apartment complex where police said a shooting took place early Saturday morning. Police Chief Anthony Cobb called the shooting "very concerning," as the multiple bullet shells found at the scene were the result of a "gun battle."

Coalition members in the community violence response team are currently looking for partners to host the forum in specific locations after a violent event.

After an incident of gun violence, said response team leader Karen Simms, neighbors and community members want to know they are safe, that there is information available and that they can quickly find resources.

"One of the things we know can reduce the impact of gun-violence events is if we get in early," Simms said. "People are less likely to have mental-health complications if that's the case, and they'll be able to have spaces to come together..."

The coalition hopes to create a core group of volunteers to engage in the forums and help out, but Kristin Walters, team member and reporter with Illinois Public Media, said it's of the utmost importance to get the message out to have mass involvement...

Anyone interested in hosting forums no more than 36 hours after an incident of violence is asked to attend an informational meeting set for 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. May 20 at the Champaign Public Library.

More at the full article here. Other topics covered by the meeting in a previous Cheat Sheet post here. WCIA had additional information on the shooting, interviews with parents and classmates and additional events after yesterday's Walk as One event. Smile politely had a brief overview of the Violence Response Forum information with links and contact information for those wanting to attend or become involved in future forums here. Excerpt:

It's a bit past the 36 hour mark, but it's on the calendar and happening this Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Jericho Missionary Baptist church, 1601 W. Bloomington Road...

Any community members or organizations that want to become a part of this effort can contact Karen Simms at CUNeighborhoodChampions@gmail.com. You can read more about her work towards creating a trauma-informed community here.

There will be a priority given to the voices and needs of those directly affected in the neighborhood and ensuring a safe environment to address those needs in the midst of trauma and tragedy. A public event will almost certainly bring a variety of views and concerns from around the community, but the focus will likely be to ensure those directly effected are reached and heard. This is considered critical to avoid compounding the damage that violence and trauma can have on the well being of individuals and a community. This is especially true when dealing with children and trauma, as is the case here.