The City of Wichita will be working with a consulting firm on a Violence Interrupter Program that will work with community leaders to reduce gun violence. The City Council has approved an agreement with the consulting firm Cure Violence Global, which began in Chicago and operates in a number of U.S. cities.
Assistant City Manager Donte Martin said the program will provide an understanding of violent behavioral outcomes and risk factors. He said Cure Violence will work with community organizations and train Wichita residents on the program that will be created. Funding will be provided to local organizations that work in youth development and violence prevention.
Martin said violent crime has gone up around 20 percent from 2016 to 2021, and the violent crime has been concentrated in areas that have social and economic distress. He said residents in those communities have three times the rate of violence than the city as a whole. The idea for the Violence Interrupter Program was developed earlier this year and the city went out for bids from consulting firms during the summer.
City Council member Brandon Johnson says Cure Violence is very passionate about the work they do, and this will be an opportunity to create a Wichita program by working with organizations and people on a grass roots level.
The city will use American Rescue Plan Act funding of $1.5 million over three years to put the program into effect.
