Inner-City Violence: an inside look at the epidemic and possible solutions

Saturday, February 8
1 p.m. 
Daniel Family Commons

The goal of this event is to (1) three-dimensionalize gang/drug related violence that plagues lower income, minority neighborhoods across America, and (2) discuss community-based programs in Chicago addressing this epidemic.

CeaseFire/Cure-Violence is a Chicago based organization which aims to interrupt gang-violence.  Its programming was popularized by the documentary, The Interrupters, and has since been replicated around the world!  Almost all employees have been incarcerated (these are ex-gang leaders, drug lords, etc.).  Having shifted perspectives/with a renewed passion for stopping violence, these employees return to the corners where they made a name and convince young men that violence is not ideal (gets in the way of business, leads to more violence, increases police intervention, etc).

This event will feature a panel discussion with two members of CeaseFire/Cure-Violence (one of whom is the star of the documentary; both of whom served time in jail). They will be joined by three youth leaders from Circles & Ciphers, a leadership development organization for young men of color that combines peacemaking circles and hip-hop to transform legacies.  Leading the panel will be Evan Okun ’13, who taught at the Middletown juvenile detention center for 3-years, and now serves as Program Coordinator for Circles & Ciphers.

 

The Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship is pleased to provide support for this event and for Evan’s work with Circles & Ciphers. Read more here.