National Network for Safe Communities

10/07/2026

We’re 1 week away from NNSC’s 2026 DVAM webinar. Have you registered yet? If not, you still have time! Register here: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/meeting/register/PqZ2poqzT0CjkbEuWi5_8w #/registration

10/01/2026

October is the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Join NNSC as we convene speakers throughout the country to discuss how we can advance safety of victim-survivors by directly addressing individuals causing harm.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) invites you to the webinar Centering Victim Safety by Addressing Individuals Causing Harm on Wednesday, October 14th at 12PM EST. During this webinar, we will explore how communities can advance the safety of victim-survivors of intimate partner violence by directly addressing the individuals causing harm.

Historically, victim-survivors have shouldered much of the burden of securing their own safety. When communities engage individuals causing harm through a strategic, thoughtful, and coordinated approach, the safety for victim-survivors, families, and the broader community can be achieved.
In this conversation, participants will hear speakers:
• Discuss how they navigated concerns and resistance to adopting a new approach
• Share how they focus on individuals causing harm
• Talk about what safety looks like now for victim-survivors
• Outline ways to support conversations for interested communities

Speakers for the webinar include:

Opening remarks:
Sasha Cotton, Executive Director at The National Network for Safe Communities and
Dr. Monique Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Cure Violence Global

Panelists:
Jessica Jones, Crime Victims Assistance Program Supervisor at the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program
LaceShionna Cline, Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Office of the City Manager for the City of Kansas City, Missouri
Rhonda Fleming, Chief of Prevention, Intervention, and Outreach at Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Al-Tabar Hudgins, Program Manager at the RISE Project

Facilitator:
Fatma Zahra, Director of Intimate Partner Violence Strategies at The National Network for Safe Communities

Register here: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/meeting/register/PqZ2poqzT0CjkbEuWi5_8w #/registration

09/29/2026

Our Executive Director, Sasha Cotton spoke at the Community Justice Action Fund's Annual Congressional Caucus Reception. Not only were the Congressional Black Caucus (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Leadership Summit aligned to be the same week, but it was also the start of Latine Heritage Month. A big thanks to Community Justice's Executive Director, José Alfaro, for inviting NNSC to participate. It was great to see our partners from Cities United Anthony Smith, Executive Director and Marcus Ellis, Deputy Director.

09/28/2026

Sasha Cotton and Dr. Monique Williams of Cure Violence Global were proud to speak about "Integrating Intimate Partner Violence Intervention into Violence Prevention Systems" at the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) 2026 Convening in Houston.

09/25/2026

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) invites you to the webinar Centering Victim Safety by Addressing Individuals Causing Harm on Wednesday, October 14th at 12PM EST. During this webinar, we will explore how communities can advance the safety of victim-survivors of intimate partner violence by directly addressing the individuals causing harm.

Historically, victim-survivors have shouldered much of the burden of securing their own safety. When communities engage individuals causing harm through a strategic, thoughtful, and coordinated approach, the safety for victim-survivors, families, and the broader community can be achieved.
In this conversation, participants will hear speakers:
• Discuss how they navigated concerns and resistance to adopting a new approach
• Share how they focus on individuals causing harm
• Talk about what safety looks like now for victim-survivors
• Outline ways to support conversations for interested communities

Speakers for the webinar include:

Opening remarks:
Sasha Cotton, Executive Director at The National Network for Safe Communities and
Dr. Monique Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Cure Violence Global

Panelists:
Jessica Jones, Crime Victims Assistance Program Supervisor at the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program
LaceShionna Cline, Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Office of the City Manager for the City of Kansas City, Missouri
Rhonda Fleming, Chief of Prevention, Intervention, and Outreach at Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Al-Tabar Hudgins, Program Manager at the RISE Project

Facilitator:
Fatma Zahra, Director of Intimate Partner Violence Strategies at The National Network for Safe Communities

Register here: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/meeting/register/PqZ2poqzT0CjkbEuWi5_8w #/registration

09/02/2026

📢 WE'RE HIRING a Program Assistant!📢

If you (or someone in your network) is detail-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about reducing violence and transforming public safety, check out the full job description and application details here: https://nnscommunities.org/careers/program-assistant/

👉Please feel free to share or reach out if you have any questions!
🌎 Remote (based in US)
📅 Application Deadline: October 2, 2026

About the Role The Program Assistant will provide programmatic, data, and administrative support to the NNSC team as we work with partner organizations to implement and sustain the NNSC model in their jurisdictions. The Program Assistant will help the team stay organized, track implementation progre...

08/13/2026

The National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) along with Allegheny County Department of Human Servicesny County Department of Human Services (DHS) presented at the National Conference on Domestic Violence this week in Austin, Texas. Domestic violence practitioners from all over the country attended sessions on emerging topics in the field. NNSC and Allegheny County DHS discussed their work on addressing the intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Community Violence. Attendees to this session learned about what this intersection of violence looks like; how to build relationships between both the Intimate Partner Violence and Community Violence fields; and emerging research that will help shape practice and advance safety.

08/12/2026

Strong communities are built through strong partnerships. NNSC was proud to join local leaders and community partners in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh to share knowledge, strengthen coordination, and support locally led strategies for reducing violence. We’re grateful for our national partners and the opportunity to be part of this important work.

07/23/2026

Director Laurie Owen and Senior Advisor Jaime Ortiz spent the last two days in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as part of a peer exchange for our St. Louis partners. We are so excited to get to share the success of the team in Cedar Rapids and the amazing work they are doing. We appreciate their hospitality. It was a great learning opportunity for St Louis and they will be taking back valuable lessons. Thank you Cedar Rapids!!


Foundation 2 Mobile Crisis Outreach
City of St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention
City of Cedar Rapids Police Department

07/06/2026

The recording is now available!

How can communities adapt Group Violence Intervention (GVI) to better meet the needs of young people involved in serious violence?

In this National Network for Safe Communities webinar, practitioners from Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Pine Bluff share early lessons from implementing youth-focused adaptations of GVI.

The discussion explores how communities are combining focused accountability with intensive wraparound supports, family engagement, mentorship, behavioral health services, education, and workforce opportunities to improve outcomes for youth.

Thank you to our panelists:

Sasha Cotton, Executive Director, National Network for Safe Communities (Moderator)
Destyn Land, Community Safety Manager, Neighborhood Safety Department, City of Minneapolis Government
Jennifer White, Director of Community Affairs & Victim Services, Hennepin County Attorney's Office, and Youth GVI Project Manager
Kevin Crumpton, Director of the Group Violence Intervention - Pine Bluff, AR
Mark Johnson-Taylor, Program Coordinator, Group Violence Intervention Juvenile Initiative, Office of Public Safety, City of Philadelphia Governmentiladelphia

Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfztd44mRNg

NNSC presents a conversation about emerging efforts to adapt the ev...