End Community Violence Now

09/03/2026

We applaud Governor Matt Meyer and the Delaware General Assembly for advancing gun violence prevention through SB 300 and HB 369 and 418.

But legislation and law enforcement alone cannot end gun violence. Gun violence is a multi-pronged public health issue requiring prevention, intervention, enforcement, and sustained investment.

Delaware has an opportunity to invest through the Justice Reinvestment Fund and Rural Health Transformation Program—putting resources where they are needed most.

The legislation is a step forward. Now, let’s make the investment.

09/02/2026

The places where we live, work, and grow are not neutral—they are structurally designed in ways that shape how communities experience injury and violence.

Today’s sessions at the World Safety 2026 Conference pushed that conversation forward, exploring the structural determinants of safety and how factors such as housing, policy, community conditions, and access to resources can influence exposure to injury including firearm violence.

A highlight was connecting with members of the Global Coalition for WHO Action on Firearm Violence.

Today reinforced our belief that community violence intervention must be part of a broader public-health strategy—one that addresses the conditions surrounding violence while elevating the expertise of communities closest to it.

Different places. Shared responsibility. Collective impact. 🌍

08/31/2026

Day in South Africa has officially come to a close. 🇿🇦

Today gave us the opportunity to connect with nature, learn more about the rich local history, and reflect on the global context in which we operate.

Experiences like this are a powerful reminder that the work we do is part of something much bigger than ourselves—and that understanding place, people, history, and culture is essential to how we show up in the world.

Grateful for the opportunity to learn, explore, and see our work through a broader global lens. 🌍

08/30/2026

🌍 ECVN is officially in South Africa! 🇿🇦

We're attending World Safety 2026- joining leaders, practitioners, researchers, and changemakers from around the globe to learn, connect, and advance the work of building safer communities.

As Delaware’s statewide backbone for Community Violence Intervention, we’re proud to bring Delaware’s perspective to this global conversation and bring new ideas, relationships, and lessons home.

The work is local. The movement is global. 🌎

South Africa, we’re here!

08/27/2026

At ChristianaCare, Dr. David Chen, M.D., MPH, works on the frontlines of Delaware’s only Level 1 Trauma Center for adults. Through the Hospital Violence Intervention Program (EVOLV) and iREACH, Dr. Chen and his team walk alongside victims of violent injury to support their journey toward full recovery.

"We are going to help you identify your goals on that journey toward getting better, and we're going to take those goals and make them our goals too, to help you and the people you love heal."

We were honored to have Dr. Chen as a speaker at last year’s Community Violence Intervention Summit, and we are thrilled to have his expertise guiding our Steering Committee for the 2nd Annual CVI Summit this fall! 🤝

➡️ Tap play to hear Dr. Chen’s message on building trust and healing through healthcare.

08/24/2026

Gun violence is a preventable public health crisis.

Like other public health challenges, violence spreads when risk factors go unaddressed and protective factors are absent. Lasting reductions in violence require more than reactive responses—they require prevention, early intervention, and coordinated community action.

A public health approach focuses on:

🔬 Addressing the root causes of violence, including trauma, poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity.

🩹 Interrupting cycles of violence through credible messengers, street outreach, and hospital-based violence intervention.

🌳 Strengthening protective factors by investing in neighborhoods, economic opportunity, healing, and community connection.

This is why ECVN is partnering with Cure Violence Global to host a series of trainings for Delaware's Community Violence Intervention ecosystem. By strengthening our collective understanding of violence as a public health issue and equipping practitioners with evidence-informed strategies, we can build a stronger, more coordinated response that saves lives.

Community safety is a shared responsibility, and together we can create safer, healthier communities across Delaware.

08/20/2026

Your voice, lived experience, and commitment to your community are exactly what we need to create lasting change. Safer communities aren't built by one organization alone—they're built when residents, advocates, service providers, and local leaders come together to identify solutions and take action.

Ready to get involved in your community? Join your local coalition today.

Together, we can strengthen our communities, build local solutions, and advance community safety across Delaware.

08/19/2026

"We are often asked to hold space for communities, respond to crises, and keep moving the work forward—often without the same recognition, support, or investment afforded to others."

At the recent GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention Conference, ECVN Executive Director Dr. Lauren J. Footman, EdD took the main stage for a plenary session: Leading While Healing: Reimagining Leadership for Women of Color in Community Violence Intervention.

The session tackled the real, unique experiences of women of color leading violence intervention movements across the nation. Reimagining leadership means investing in the mental health, sustainability, and wellness of those who lead our communities through crisis.

08/15/2026