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Partnership for Community Wellness describes ARPA and gun‑violence prevention programming for youth and overdose awareness
Summary
Partnership for Community Wellness presented outcomes from ARPA and Gun Violence Prevention Commission funding, citing youth mentorship (REAL), circus/performing‑arts workshops at the Melrose Library, outdoor confidence programs for girls, and distribution of drug‑deactivation kits; the group asked the city to consider them during future funding cycles.
Christine Gist, grant coordinator for the Partnership for Community Wellness, told the City Council that PCW used ARPA and Gun Violence Prevention Commission funds to run several prevention and youth‑development programs between May and July 2024.
Gist highlighted REAL (Roanoke Independent Leaders for Life), a youth mentorship and boxing program for boys ages 10–17 delivered in partnership with local instructors; juggling and performing‑arts workshops at the Melrose Library led by Jefferson Rose; and a Wild Way program that offered outdoor confidence‑building activities for girls. PCW distributed drug‑deactivation kits at community events and shared prevention education materials. Gist said partners were trained in trauma basics and that events included community cleanups and tabling at the Envision Center.
Councilmembers praised the partnership and asked about sustainability and additional funding. Vice Mayor Cobb and others noted that some grant opportunities (for example through the Department of Criminal Justice Services) are available at various times of the year and encouraged PCW to flag funding opportunities for collaboration with city staff.
Gist said PCW obtained a behavioral health equity grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to pilot a mentorship and dance program and that she and partners would continue to seek funding to sustain successful activities.
What happens next: Council asked staff and the Gun Violence Prevention Commission to keep PCW’s programs in mind for future funding opportunities and for PCW to alert the city when collaborative funding opportunities arise.
