The state Office of Violence Prevention kicked off the inaugural NC Violence Prevention Conference on November 19 in Raleigh, welcoming more than 200 attendees who represented law enforcement, public health, education, healthcare and nonprofit organizations partnering to prevent community violence.
The two-day event focused on the theme, "Building Sustainable Partnerships: Transforming Community Safety."
Highlights from the Conference
Day 1: Learning, Networking, and Inspiration
Sasha Cotton, director of the National Network for Safe Communities, delivered the opening keynote, highlighting the evolving landscape of community violence prevention, as well as innovative strategies and effective collaboration.
Panels and workshops throughout the day focused on leveraging lived experiences, using data for program planning and applying for grants. Empower Omaha CEO Willie Barney and Omaha, Neb., Police Chief Todd Schmaderer presented a deep dive into Omaha 360, a collaborative violence prevention and intervention model that gained national recognition and helped the city reduce its number of gunshot victims by half over a 15-year period.
Participants had the opportunity to connect during networking breaks and a regional breakout session, fostering local and statewide partnerships.
Day 2: Practical Strategies and Visionary Goals
Day two began with interactive workshops addressing secondhand trauma among frontline workers, shifting community narratives and the importance of centering local communities in program planning. NCDPS Deputy Secretary Caroline Valand moderated a panel on the challenges and opportunities for community violence intervention programs.
Shantay Jackson, director of the National OVP Network, delivered the closing keynote, encouraging attendees to think about how their organizations define and measure goals. “Success is highly subjective in the field of gun violence reduction,” she said. “We have got to lessen the subjectivity.”
A Platform for Collaboration and Action
The conference is the first in what is intended to become a series of events that will bring together individuals and organizations from across North Carolina, creating a platform to share expertise, forge partnerships and explore strategies for safer communities.
“Having events like this really helps break down silos and foster cross-sector collaboration, which is a key part of a public health approach,” said Siarra Scott, acting director of the N.C. Office of Violence Prevention. “None of us can do this work alone.”
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