PEACE! Promote community safety, Empower youth, Advocate for healing, Co-create solutions, Enact change

Community safety

East LA South LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

In Los Angeles County (LAC) interpersonal violence is a critical public health issue that disproportionately impacts youth/young adults between ages 14-30. In 2019, the rate of interpersonal violence in LAC exceeded state and national averages by 46% and 26% respectively. In 2021, homicide was the leading cause of death among 15-24 year-olds and the second leading cause for 25-40 year-olds in LAC. For each recorded death, hundreds of additional individuals are injured, with victims being more likely to develop risk factors for poor physical and mental health. In 2022, youth/young adults comprised 53% of non-fatal ED firearm assault visits and nearly 34% of trauma center visits. The physical and psychological trauma in unincorporated areas of LA is compounded by high levels of socio-economic deprivation, policing, gentrification, government disinvestment and incarceration. Engaging youth with developmental opportunities is essential for mitigating the impacts of community violence.

PEACE! is a peer-led healing centered fellowship for 15-20 youth/young adults between ages 14-30 that aims to interrupt the cycle of violence by providing developmental opportunities to youth/young adults at high risk of violence. OVP will leverage its partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs) who provide Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) and Street Outreach community violence intervention (CVI) services. HVIP and Street Outreach staff with lived experience will be compensated with a subject matter expert stipend to train youth. Fellows will also be recruited from the clients of HVIP and Street Outreach case managers and peacemakers. Fellows will receive $2000 stipends and become the first cohort who will co-design the curriculum for their own and future cohorts. This will include at least 10 workshops and practical skills training tailored to their choosing over the course of 2 months. Their training will include relevant topics to inform their design of the peace project for which they will be given a $5,000 mini grant to implement. The project will engage other youth and promote peace and healing in their respective communities. Fellows will be introduced to key stakeholders in their communities including the Community Action for Peace (CAP) stakeholder networks to the maximize impact and reach of their peace project. PEACE! recognizes authentic and deep investment in youth for meaningful growth opportunities as a driver of public safety and peace.

CVI often engages youth during crisis response in the aftermath of a violent incident. Seldom are youth provided with growth opportunities that position them to step into roles as champions of community-based safety strategies. PEACE! leans into a model of youth led peacebuilding that meets at risk youth where they are, presenting them with opportunities that prioritize growth, healing, and self-determination. Success will be measured by 1) the extent to which fellows are able to sustain changes in life trajectories and step into roles as agents of peace in their communities, and 2) the ability of OVP to sustain the model and integrate it into its countywide violence intervention/prevention strategy. The former will be captured by following fellows after to see whether they have sustained the changes realized while participating in the project. The latter will be measured by whether OVP can formalize a permanent fellowship that is linked to its existing Street Outreach and HVIP.