For The New York Times, Shayla Colon reports on the historic shift that has taken place in Camden—which “for years… ranked among the most dangerous cities in America”—but in 2025 the city “reached a stunning milestone: It achieved its first homicide-free summer in 50 years.” That remarkable achievement, city leaders explained, was achieved through a combination of modern policing strategies and “violence interruption programs… [that deployed] ‘credible messengers’ — people with deep roots and trust in the community… to engage in direct outreach with people at risk of perpetuating violence,” and also connected at-risk youth with “mentorship and work-force training programs.” The effect has been transformative for Camden, here’s what local leaders, and residents, told the NYT:
Louis Cappelli Jr, Director of Camden County Board of Commissioners: “[Violence interrupters] play a big role. This city is full of just amazing individuals who just sacrificed their time for the young folks.”
Jose Rosado, Captain in the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and former Sergeant in the homicide unit: “I don’t even know how to put it into words. It’s a lot quieter.”
Stanley Winrow, Camden Violence Intervention Specialist: “I had 31 participants total when I started. Twenty-four changed their lives—put the guns down, working or back to school… Children [are back] in the playgrounds and in the parks and playing tag. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen girls jumping double dutch, and I see the moms out there [now] jumping double Dutch with their children.”
Mark Lee, Camden Department of Public Works employee: “I’m sitting back watching this city once torn apart being put back together.”
In Dayton, Ohio, Community Violence Interruption Program “Builds Relationships With Residents… Puts Boots On The Ground In Neighborhood Hot Spots.”
For WDTN, Julian Jackson and Channing King report on the city’s new CVI program that is already seeing results “in the areas where the program was… implemented, it had reductions in shootings and killings in the target area compared to the city as a whole.” The team of highly trained professionals—composed of “community outreach workers, credible messengers, and violence interrupters, individuals whose lived experience allows them to build trust where traditional systems often cannot”—have deep roots in their neighborhoods and are “working to stop violent acts before they happen… [by] building relationships with people in some of the problem areas, as well as with families who may have been affected by violent crimes.” Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr. explained to the Dayton Weekly News that the city has shifted how it addresses violence: “Treating violence like a contagious disease, we are investing in solutions that heal communities… [bringing] together government, public health, and grassroots leadership… to build lasting peace.” The team focuses on three key pillars to reduce violence:
“Interrupting conflicts before they escalate into gun violence or retaliation”
“Providing mentorship and mediation, especially for individuals identified as high-risk”
“Connecting residents to vital resources such as education, employment, housing, and healing supports”
Detroit’s Various CVI Programs Team Up To Launch “Youth Flag Football League” To “Keep At-Risk Youth Engaged And Teach Long-Term Skills.”
For ABC News in Detroit, Christiana Ford reports on a collaboration between multiple CVI teams in the city—Team Pursuit, Detroit Friends and Family, Live In Peace, Detroit 300, and The Peoples Action—have formed a new flag football league during the summer months when kids are out of school to add an additional layer of programming and connection for kids at-risk of being a victim of violence or perpetrating violence. City leaders explained that the league “is to not only keep the youth busy over the summer but to teach them long-term skills… ‘we were very intentional about building a curriculum, where we’re going to focus on themes every week while they’re in practice… learning about conflict resolution, emotional health.”
Keontae, a Detroit 17-year-old, explained to the news station that the CVI teams have turned his life around: “I was up there about to fight and they were up there and they grabbed me and they pulled me to the side and they talked to me… [and] the group never left [my] side…. my life changed 100% around all thanks to [the CVI team].” He plans on participating in the summer football league as well, because “this is most definitely gonna keep me off the streets and keep me occupied, give me something [positive] to do.”
