Mayor's office presents 'Peace in Motion' five-year violence-reduction plan and local updates

Office of the mayor staff and community partners presented "Peace in Motion," a comprehensive five-year violence-reduction plan, at the April 15 agenda review. Presenters said the plan grew from the Community Action Table and draws on evidence-based strategies used elsewhere.

Josh (last name not specified) introduced the plan and turned the presentation to Malcolm (last name not specified), who described recent progress including a survivor-led recommendation to establish a healing-and-compassion fund for immediate, non-reimbursable gap support following violent incidents. Malcolm said the fund has been seeded from city budget dollars and is administered via a United Way partnership; community fundraising by local youth groups was also cited.

Presenters described case conferencing every two weeks with a cross-sector set of providers to review shootings into homes, fatal and nonfatal shootings and other serious incidents to coordinate follow-up and reduce secondary violence. They also reported a memorandum of understanding with Lucas County juvenile courts to accept referrals and deliver cognitive behavioral therapy groups later this summer.

The presenters said the Violence Reduction Council and other cross-sector work has secured funding through 2027 to sustain convening and data-driven decision making. They asked council for a first reading so the plan can be formally considered and implementation can continue. Councilmembers who had participated in a recent committee hearing praised the plan and encouraged fundraising and community involvement.

At agenda review, Chair Gaddis recommended first read. No formal council vote was recorded at that time.