Center for American Progress

Community Violence Intervention: Juan Carter and Giffords Center for Violence Intervention
Video

Community Violence Intervention: Juan Carter and Giffords Center for Violence Intervention

Juan Carter, outreach manager for the Giffords Center for Violence Intervention, explains how community violence intervention (CVI) programs take a holistic approach to public safety by investing in the long-term health and well-being of individuals affected by violence.

Part of a Series
I think when we talk about public safety, CVI ... needs to be at the forefront of that conversation. Juan Carter
Juan Carter is the outreach manager for the Giffords Center for Violence Intervention, a national nonprofit organization that champions CVI programs by advocating for reliable funding, conducting and promoting research on CVI strategies, and amplifying program successes nationwide. Collaborating closely with federal and state partners, Giffords has helped secure $300 million for CVI-based programs through the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) and more than $690 million in state investments in CVI strategies.
Juan entered the CVI field in 2009 as a street outreach worker for the Nonviolence Institute in Providence, Rhode Island, where he would later become their director of street outreach. As a violence intervention specialist for more than 13 years, Juan has received multiple community awards in recognition of his outstanding work and contributions to the nonviolence field across the country.
In this video, Juan describes how successful CVI models approach violence intervention through long-term investments in services and individualized mentoring. By walking on a journey with those affected by violence over many years to remove barriers and offer exposure to new opportunities, front-line workers can have a positive impact on their community as a whole.

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Authors

Chandler Hall

Associate Director, Gun Violence Prevention

Nick Wilson

Senior Director, Gun Violence Prevention

Producers

Hai-Lam Phan

Senior Director, Creative

Ala Al Sadi

Former Video Producer

Toni Pandolfo

Video Producer, Production

Matthew Gossage

Events Video Producer

Team

Gun Violence Prevention

Our goal is to reduce gun violence by enacting strong gun laws, increasing investment in local solutions, and growing the movement dedicated to this mission.

Explore The Series

Photo shows a young man lighting a candle in the late evening

In America, gunshots rattle communities every 11 minutes. Amid this cycle of tragedy, community violence intervention (CVI) programs are addressing the root causes of violence to end cycles before they can start.

Through collaboration with residents and government officials, CVI programs curb the spread of gun violence by meeting community members where they are and responding to their individual needs. In violence-affected neighborhoods, residents are grappling with trauma and long-standing hardships that fuel the rise in shootings. But CVI programs channel resources back into the community, improving access to needed resources such as education, employment, housing, and health care.

In a nation haunted by the daily occurrence of gun violence, CVI programs provide a path forward—toward healing, unity, and a safer future for everyone.

This series highlights resources on CVI programs and stories from the voices of change on the front lines of America’s gun violence epidemic. These narratives are a reminder of the challenges and successes that outline the effort to save more lives.

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