Kalamazoo Commission Backs $1.25M MCOLES Grant to Tackle Gun Violence

Published on December 05, 2024

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS), in partnership with Gryphon Place and the Michigan Transformation Collective, is proud to announce the receipt of a grant from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) aimed at reducing gun violence within the Kalamazoo community. This opportunity allows the Kalamazoo Blueprint for Peace to take a large step forward with accomplishing its goals and actions steps.

For more information about the Kalamazoo Blueprint for Peace please visit: https://mitransformation.org/blueprint-for-peace/

This grant, which was awarded in the amount of $1,250,000, will fund a collaborative effort to enhance strategies and initiatives focused on preventing gun violence and addressing its root causes. The project will leverage the unique strengths of each participating organization—KDPS, Gryphon Place, and the Michigan Transformation Collective—to create a comprehensive approach to Community Violence Intervention.

"We are thrilled to receive this critical funding and to be working alongside Gryphon Place and the Michigan Transformation Collective," said KDPS Chief, David Boysen. "This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration, and this grant will allow us to focus on reducing gun violence, improving community safety, and providing resources to those most impacted."

The MCOLES grant will support a range of initiatives that are designed to address both immediate and long-term solutions to gun violence. Key elements of the grant include:

Community-Based Intervention Programs: Gryphon Place will lead efforts to connect individuals at risk of violence with community resources, counseling, and support services. These programs will aim to intervene before violence occurs and promote peaceful conflict resolution. Gryphon Place also plans to organize and host several trainings to include Community Restorative Justice Conferencing training and Community Suicide Prevention/Intervention Training.

HAVI Convenings by MTC: The Michigan Transformation Collective will focus on the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) Training and Technical Assistance program which utilizes evidence-based practices from the public health approach to violence prevention, which emphasizes understanding the root causes of violence and implementing interventions that address underlying social determinants of health. The HAVI process asks that a backbone organization (MTC) convenes stakeholders from the participating hospital system, nonprofits, and grassroots groups to work alongside HAVI Technical Assistance experts to develop a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP).

Data-Driven Law Enforcement Initiatives: KDPS will use data and evidence-based practices to identify gun violence hotspots and deploy focused interventions in those areas, while also enhancing their investigative efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. KDPS also plans to use funding for Outreach and Educational events that focuses on reducing gun violence within the Kalamazoo Community.

Evaluation: These three major areas will also undergo extensive evaluation by the Lewis Walker Institute to assess their impact and identify areas of improvement to ensure that each is performing at capacity and meeting the identified community needs from the Kalamazoo Blueprint for Peace.

"Reducing gun violence requires a multifaceted approach," said Maricela Alcala, Chief Executive Officer of Gryphon Place. "This grant allows us to combine our expertise in community-based interventions with the resources and experience of KDPS, the Michigan Transformation Collective, and Community Organizations focused on prevention-based work giving us the best opportunity to make a meaningful impact."

The MCOLES grant is part of a statewide effort to support communities in addressing the growing concerns surrounding gun violence and public safety. By combining the efforts of law enforcement and community-based organizations, this project aims to create safer, healthier neighborhoods throughout Kalamazoo.

"We know that the key to long-term change lies in working together with local organizations, community members, and law enforcement," said Dr. Kenlana Ferguson, Executive Director of the Michigan Transformation Collective. "This partnership offers a powerful opportunity to build trust, reduce violence, and make our community stronger."

The collaborative efforts funded by this grant are designed to foster trust, promote healing, and ensure a safer environment for all Kalamazoo residents. The partners are committed to continuing their work with the community to reduce gun violence and build lasting solutions.

This project is supported by Michigan’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funding Program # FRF5311, awarded by the U.S. Department of Treasury, and administered by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (the Commission). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Commission.

By authority of: Assistant Chief David Juday