Community leaders urge city to fund Advance Peace model as alternative violence-reduction strategy

At the citizens forum, community leaders urged Cincinnati officials to invest in community violence intervention programs modeled on Advance Peace. Bishop Sonny James announced a "come together" event and urged unity; Carol Womelldorf argued for proactive investment, saying a $1 million annual commitment over five years "could save the city much more than $50,000,000 over the same time period." She described Advance Peace as a public-health approach that uses "credible messengers, mentors and trusted community servants" to intervene with people at highest risk.

Carol Womelldorf asserted that "each homicide cost [the] City of Cincinnati over $1,000,000" and said the city averages more than 60 homicides a year; she told council that a 20% reduction in cyclical, retaliatory gun violence would prevent more than 10 homicides a year and yield large financial and social benefit. She explicitly said the program "is not paying shooters not to shoot—we're paying counselors, those credible messengers, mentors and trusted community servants."

Danny (Danny Burridge), executive director of MARC (the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati), told council civil-society groups are ready to partner on violence-prevention efforts and asked officials to "consider investing in Advance Peace." Burridge said safety improves when communities have access to after-school programs, economic opportunities and local de-escalation capacity.

No formal council action on funding for Advance Peace was taken at the meeting. Speakers requested that city leaders, philanthropic partners and the council consider shifting some resources from reactive spending on law enforcement toward proven community-based interventions; several urged follow-up conversations with community and faith-based organizations.