New Report:

Community Safety Scorecard

City of Los Angeles, 2011

View Grade by ZIP  | Download Report

The 2011 VPC Annual Report

This past year has been one of tremendous growth for the Violence Prevention Coalition. As you can see in our Annual Report, we have created new opportunities for members to learn, grow, and network, and have taken a leading role in facilitating and organizing significant collaborative efforts in Los Angeles.

View 2011 VPC Annual Report

On 12/1/11, the VPC co-hosted a training with Children's Institute that explored how law enforcement, mental health, DCFS, hospitals, and community-based systems respond to issues of learned violence.

To learn more, click here.

The VPC and the League of Women Voters hosted a community forum on the Criminal Justice Realignment Act, AB 109. Panelists included:

Deputy Chief Reaver Bingham, LA County Probation Department
Dr. Mary Marx, LA County Department of Mental Health
Chief James R. Lopez, LA County Sheriff's Department
Brian Biery, Flintridge Center
Mary Weaver, Friends Outside of Los Angeles County
Commander John Perez, Pasadena Police Department

View the AB109 Community Forum: Part 1 | Part 2

In Los Angeles, Transforming Guns Into Art
GOOD Magazine, by Zak Stone, 9/9/11

The VPC is melting guns down and reworking them into statues to commemorate the work of local leaders who take a stand against violence with the "Angel of Peace Award" Read More

These weapons were on our streets. They are being turned into something beautiful by young people at risk of violence, to honor and support those who are trying to stop violence. Read More

Angel Sculpture by Artist Lin Evola

Impact on Kids Conference

In part two of our three-part series, we dove deeper into the impact of Domestic Violence on kids, and how early learned violence in the home connects to gang violence on the street. This session included case studies, testimonials, workshops, and hands-on tools and strategies.

Click here to learn more

Angel of Peace Awards Luncheon

On September 28, 2011, the Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater LA, VPC Steering Committee, and Honorary Luncheon Committee honored Angel of Peace Awardee Connie Rice & Community Angel Awardee Ralphs Grocery at the Angel of Peace Award Luncheon. Ashley Mercado, a youth leader in Pasadena, was honored with the Tony Borbon Youth Scholarship.

Welcome Home L.A.

Welcome Home L.A. represents a Reentry Plan created by:Currently and formerly incarcerated youth and our families, Liberated lifers, Victims of violence, Community and faith-based organizations that serve people returning to the community from juvenile halls, Probation camps, jails and prisons. View "Welcome Home L.A." plan

View Implementation Plan Recommendations

New Fact Sheets: Links Between Violence and Chronic Diseases, Mental Illness and Poor Learning

New fact sheets, Violence and Chronic Diseases, Mental Illness and Poor Learning, recently released from Prevention Institute's Urban Networks to Increase Thriving Youth (UNITY), provides data and research that links emotional and physical injury to longer term health consequences including asthma, unhealthy eating, heart and lung disease, and more. These fact sheets were designed to persuade educators and those in health, public health and mental health that violence can undermine the work of all sectors, and that everyone should include preventing violence in their efforts. View Fact Sheets

L.A.'s Gun Buyback Program - Getting Guns Off the Streets

The VPC, Women Against Gun Violence, and the Brady Campaign came out in support of the City of L.A.'s Gun Buyback Program. The Gun Buyback is the beginning of the Summer Violence Reduction strategy which leads into the Summer Night Lights program. The Gun Buyback enables individuals to surrender their firearms anonymously to law enforcement at a pre-designated site, no questions asked. The initiative also serves as a deterrent for the theft of guns later used to commit crimes, and ultimately reduces the risk of death or injury caused by guns. Additionally, the Gun Buyback rewards voluntary surrender of potentially dangerous firearms, while engaging the local community towards a common goal. Click here for more information on the gun buyback event

Mayor Villaraigosa and Cheif Beck viewing gun display at Gun Buyback Press Conference in Los Angeles.

Hospitals Against Violence Empowering Neighborhoods (HAVEN) has formed in an effort to create a collaborative of Los Angeles hospital trauma centers dedicated to the prevention of traumatic injuries. Learn More

Job Developer Resource Workshop: Transitioning Home

The VPC hosted a workshop for for Job Developers with Erick Cerda, who presented his recommendations on placing at-risk and formerly incarcerated individuals. Click here to view the presentation slides

Proposed Open Carry Ban Sparks Protest

Kaile Shilling and Daniel Healy of the VPC took part in a counter-demonstration in support of Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's proposed open carry ban. Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D - La Cañada Flintridge) is author of a bill backed by the California Police Chiefs Association that would make it illegal for gun owners to openly display unloaded firearms in public places. Read More

Conversation with Dr. Meda Chesney-Lind

The VPC hosted Dr. Chesney-Lind, feminist criminologist and an advocate for girls and women who come in contact with the criminal justice system, for a discussion on issues facing that population. Listen to discussion

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2011 CHALLENGE GRANT RECIPIENTS!

Street Poets, Inc.

Father Themed Open Mic Event

Life After Uncivil Ruthless Acts (L.A.U.R.A.)

Community Resource Fair

The VPC joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns in presenting signed petitions to Sen. Barbara Boxer's Office to fix the broken background check system that makes it too easy for dangerous people to purchase guns.

Juvenile Justice Panel

The VPC Re-Entry and Social Justice Working Group hosted a Panel on Juvenile Justice, featuring VPC members Youth Justice Coalition and Girls & Gangs. The panel was moderated by our Re-Entry and Social Justice Working Group Co-Chair Herb Blake. The panel was held at Loyola Law School as part of their Juvenile Justice Week.

City Controller Wendy Greuel and VPC Founder Billie Weiss  Discuss the Importance of Evaluation and the Public Health Model

Our January General Meeting for members featured City Controller Wendy Greuel and VPC Founder Billie Weiss discussing the importance of evaluation in addressing the effectiveness of City programs, and offered a workshop on using the Public Health Model in pursuing funding and advocacy.

When Can We Have a Conversation About Gun Safety in Safety?

Gun Safety continues to be a priority issue for the VPC.  See the linked articles for the latest in the conversation on assault weapons and moving forward safer gun legislation (including our own article in the Huffington Post).

L.A. COUNTY'S BLUEPRINT FOR RE-ENTRY

The Blueprint is an all encompassing master plan that provides recommendations which support or can influence the improvement of reentry systems and services in Los Angeles County.

Click HERE to see the County's Blueprint.

Click HERE to read the Community Response and Sign On.

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS:

2/24/12: Another Way: Imagining a Justice that Restores Conference View Flyer | RSVP

2/28/12: Community Asset Mapping Training with HealthyCity View Flyer | RSVP

3/13/12 - 3/14/12: Changing the Paradigm Conference - The Echo Approach to Families, Domestic Violence and Retraumatization View Brochure | Register

2012 Schedule of Workshops

View VPC Calendar

COMMUNITY SAFETY SCORECARD

The Scorecard examines risk and protective factors at a zip code level across the City of Los Angeles. Click here for more information and to download a copy.

Scorecard covered in Miller McCune Magazine: Rating LA's Safety Levels by ZIP Code

Scorecard presented on the Madeline Brand Show on KPCC:
300,000 LA children live in gangland