The Cure Violence program

The Cure Violence program treats violence as a public health issue rather than just criminal behavior. It employs trained community members and former offenders as conflict interrupters and mediators to de-escalate tensions before violence occurs. The approach also includes outreach and support services to address underlying social issues like poverty and lack of opportunity. By applying strategies similar to disease prevention—for example, identifying and interrupting outbreaks of violence—the program aims to reduce gunfire, assaults, and retaliation, fostering safer communities through proactive engagement and relationship-building.