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Urban Peace Institute

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Urban Peace Institute

UPI develops and implements policy and systems solutions to reduce violence and achieve safety.

Urban Peace Institute reduces and prevents community violence by applying a public health approach to understand the underlying reasons for violence and create innovative, holistic ways to change the conditions that lead to them. We provide technical assistance and training to communities throughout
California and across the country, supporting safety efforts to ensure that children can learn, families can thrive, and communities can prosper.

04/28/2026

We’re joining our CalVIP Coalition partners in calling on California leaders to increase the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (CalVIP) Grant by $55 million!

Citis across the country are seeing historic reductions in violence—LA included. Community violence intervention is essential to creating and maintaining safety. CVI saves lives!

04/17/2026

UPI’s second Community Conversations event is happening this month! This time, we’re breaking down where our tax dollars are really going in LA County and envisioning how we can collectively create change. When communities control the conversation about resources, we all get closer to justice.

Join us to sit down with neighbors, organizers, and fellow advocates who care deeply about our communities as we share ideas, ask questions, and leave with clear and tangible ways we can build a just Los Angeles that works for everyone.

Whether you’re deeply familiar with county budgeting or just learning about it for the first time, your voice is essential for building power! Community Conversations is UPI’s ongoing series for people who want more than headlines.

Together we’ll create real dialogue, real connections, and real tools to push for change in Los Angeles.

Light refreshments will be provided.

🗓️ Thursday, April 30th
⏰ 5:30pm
1910 Sunset Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90026
RSVP at the link in bio!

04/10/2026

UPI celebrated our latest cohort of Los Angeles Violence Intervention Training Academy (LAVITA) graduates this week! 23 intervention workers graduated, representing 10 community violence intervention (CVI) agencies from across Los Angeles—from the Valley to South LA to the Harbor.

This cohort came in strong and built an even stronger license to operate (LTO) throughout the 144-hour, 12-week training. Together, they built a network of CVI practitioners ready to support LA communities during both crisis and peace.

Certified, professional CVI workers are essential to strengthening coordination across neighborhoods and organizations, and to advancing non-aggression agreements and peace maintenance across Los Angeles.

Special thanks to Deputy Mayor Karren Lane from the Office of Community Safety for showing up to support the graduates. “The Mayor believes that we cannot make the city safe without you. And so, you have chosen to become a part of the city’s safety response.” We’re grateful to Senior Field Deputy Gandy Diaz for sharing words of support from . Thanks to Paul Carrillo for MCing the event and to members of the Professional Standards Committee (PSC) for attending.

Most importantly, our sincerest thanks to the LAVITA graduates—your willingness to show up and engage thoughtfully with instructors and peers demonstrates your deep commitment to peace and safety. Congratulations!

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03/27/2026

UPI is a co-sponsor of the Hug Act (AB 1646), which would allow youth incarcerated in LA County facilities to engage in physical contact with visitors. Why? Because we believe all young people deserve to hug their loved ones!

Olivia Shields, UPI’s Justice Transformation Policy Coordinator, has been working with youth who are currently incarcerated inside Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall to draft the Hug Act: “If you give them the right support and encouragement, these young people can do, and will do, massive things.”

Shoutout to and co-sponsors for the collective advocacy to move this bill forward.

Read the full article at the link in bio (“in the news”section or and subscribe to UPI’s newsletter to stay current on how to support the passage of the Hug Act.

02/19/2026

Urban Peace Institute and the Los Angeles Violence Intervention Coalition were honored to join Mayor Karen Bass, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and Councilmember Tim McOsker to celebrate the incredible work of community violence intervention (CVI) in making LA safer!

In 2025, homicides in the neighborhoods most impacted by violence fell by 27%. This shows how CVI workers are essential to reducing violence on the ground and creating lasting safety in the communities of greatest need.

In the last year, LA has faced unprecedented challenges, including the flooding of our streets by the National Guard, ICE agents terrorizing our communities, and significant federal funding cuts to community-based safety. Yet, peacemakers prevailed and made our city safer.

With challenges ahead, we must acknowledge that peace is fragile. As our state and local governments face more budgetary challenges, we are here to say to all government and philanthropic leaders: we cannot afford NOT to invest in community violence intervention.

We’re grateful to leaders like and who continue to champion this lifesaving work!

Special shout out to all the peacemakers and partners who showed up (even in the rain!), and to all those working to save lives and transform public safety across LA and the country.

02/05/2026

As Black History Month begins, UPI honors and celebrates Black peacemakers and youth advocates who are transforming safety and justice across LA and beyond. Community violence intervention workers are building lasting peace so every neighborhood can thrive, while youth advocates are elevating young people’s voices at the forefront of transforming the state of juvenile halls.

This work is more critical than ever, and we champion their voices today and always.

01/29/2026

ICE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UPI continues to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis and communities across the country demanding justice, transparency, and accountability. We honor Alex Pretti’s life by calling for truth, dignity, and safety for all.

We also stand with fellow Angelenos taking action and making their voices heard tomorrow. ICE OUT OF LA!

01/28/2026

NEW REPORT RELEASE 📣 As part of the CVI Action Plan, Urban Peace Institute, Community-Based Public Safety Collective and the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform are thrilled to release a new report!

Setting the Standard shares findings from a 2025 national convening in Los Angeles. The report elevates the collective wisdom of frontline workers at a time when the field has experienced unprecedented growth, creating a need for shared standards to maintain the integrity of CVI.

The CVI field is at a pivotal moment. Years of progress are under threat in the face of federal funding cuts, making national solidarity for the CVI field essential to sustain this lifesaving work.

Setting the Standard provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, funders, researchers, and organizations to advance public safety across the country.

Swipe through to learn more about the report’s findings and recommendations. 🔗 Read the full report linked in bio!

01/20/2026

UPI has a new release! LA Peacemakers Initiative Progress Report 📣

In our latest report, UPI highlights the measurable achievements of CVI organizations in advancing public safety and strengthening the social fabric of neighborhoods across the city. The LA Peacemakers Initiative launched in February 2024 with a goal of investing $9.6 million in public and private funding to build the capacity of CVI organizations.

Swipe through to see the initiative's impact and how peacemakers have proven that they can effectively reduce violence and save lives with sustainable investment.

🔗 Read the full progress report: https://www.urbanpeaceinstitute.org/reports/

Address

1910 W Sunset Boulevard, Ste 800
Los Angeles, CA
90026

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12134040124

Website

http://www.urbanpeaceinstitute.org/

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