Featured talks by and media mentions of the CF4VI team.
Talks
Using Public Funding for Community Violence Intervention Strategies: Successes and Challenges
Since 2020, the federal government has made public funds available to support CVI at an unprecedented scale. In this webinar, Amanda Kass and Philip Rocco discuss the preliminary results of ongoing research at DePaul and Marquette Universities that examines barriers to and facilitators of the use of these public dollars for CVI. Hosted by The Joyce Foundation.
January 19, 2023
Sustaining the CVI Ecosystem: Sources of Funding for CVI Strategies
Amanda Kass and Philip Rocco join a panel to discuss different funding streams available to communities to implement community violence intervention (CVI) strategies, how to access those federal dollars, and examples of how communities are successfully using federal funds to strengthen and sustain CVI programs. Hosted by the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The CF4VI team gratefully acknowledges the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and Bureau of Justice Assistance for allowing us to share the recording and description of this panel. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this video are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
January 11, 2023
Amanda Kass joins a panel of government officials and subject matter experts to discuss approaches to community engagement strategies, policy issues that informed how local governments used the funds, and the value of public engagement. Hosted by Pandemic Oversight and the National League of Cities.
December 15, 2022
Media
Gun violence leads community groups to take bolder action
This Associated Press article cites the project’s finding that cities devoted little SLFRF aid to CVI by the end of 2021.
Grant backs study of cities’ use of rescue funds
UIC Today announcement about the project and grant
Illinois Newsroom’s Emily Hays spoke with Kass and Rocco about what their research has found so far.
Public health and pickleball: How cities are spending COVID money
Philip Rocco is quoted in this Axios article about how cities are spending COVID money.
How the American Rescue Plan Is Backstopping the ‘Submerged State’
The Prospect interviewed researchers Amanda Kass and Philip Rocco about the American Rescue Plan fund expenditures by local governments.
How Are Governments Using ARPA Funds? So Far, Very Slowly
Amanda Kass and Philip Rocco are quoted in an article from Governing about what recently released data reveals about how governments are using the $350 billion in flexible aid that were allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act.
How A Suburb Spent COVID Relief Funds on Sniper Rifles, Tactical Helmets and Police Bonuses
The Marshall Project article cites the project’s finding that CVI funds were sometimes being used for traditional policing.
Researcher Amanda Kass was interviewed by the Baltimore Banner on what defines successful ARPA spending.
Biden Calls Out Republicans on Guns and Crime in Pennsylvania Speech
This New York Times article cites the project’s finding that some local governments were funneling funds into police departments.
White House gun violence program with philanthropies ends
AP News cites Amanda Kass and Philip Rocco’s research on ARPA funding for CVI and concerns with it’s allocations.
How are cities spending ARPA funds to address violent crime 