Leaders mark 1 year of Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago program
Officials say anti-violence efforts making a difference in Chicago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tuesday marks a year since the beginning of a program designed to cut down on violence in Chicago.
The program is called Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago, or SC2.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Tuesday, local leaders and advocates marked the one-year anniversary of the effort they say so far has been a success.
The ambitious program targets several South and West side communities: where people are most at-risk to experience gun violence.
Funded by a $400 million public-private partnership to expand violence intervention, community violence intervention groups work together to stem the tide of gun violence.
According to an ABC7 Chicago data team analysis using numbers from the Chicago Police Department, the number of shooting victims in the past 12 months stands at 2,225. That's a nearly 28% decrease from the average of the prior three years.
Deadly shootings are down 25% in the last 12 months, and non-fatal shooting are down more than 28%.
"It's not just numbers; it's actual people who are not having to experience the cycle of violence anymore," said Susan Lee, with SC2.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the initiative is working.
"So, it's policing and affordable housing, policing and mental and behavioral health services," Mayor Johnson said. "We have 29,000 young people that will have summer jobs this summer: a 45 percent increase. But it is also working with every single level of government whether it is the state, Cook County government, that full force approach that has been missing for a long time."
Summer 2025 violence: Tracking shootings across Chicago | Live updates
Elected officials, along with anti-violence advocates and community supporters, gathered to talk about declines in gun violence in the city and next steps for the program Tuesday.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Johnson were among them.
The Restorative Project is able to scale its operations and connect with various organizations to respond to gun violence thanks in part to SC2.
Executive Director Bilaal Evans says his group has mapped out nearly 80 cliques throughout the Englewood neighborhood, marking specific spots red for the most at-risk areas.
"You have to build a network. You have to have a relationship, right? And, without those pieces to the puzzle, just responding to a shooting is not going to help change," Evans said.
Englewood is one of the newest communities to partner with SC2: a program Evans says has been critical to combating gun violence.
"We have a partnership to make sure that we have coverage around the clock anytime a shooting happens," Evans said.
SC2 is fully active in Austin, Humboldt Park, Little Village and North Lawndale.
"Shootings and homicides are down 80% since last year in Little Village," said Matt DeMateo, the executive director of New Life Centers.
SC2 is working to serve 1,000 more participants this past year with more expansion on the way.
Despite the city grappling with a more than $1 billion anticipated budget deficit next year, Johnson says SC2 remains a priority.
"Today is proof positive that the strategy to invest in our community violence intervention workers, that that's a strategy that's worthwhile investing," Johnson said.
It's a goal in Englewood to have a fully active SC2 become part of the solution to changing more hearts and minds.
"Nobody win in the war, no one wins, you know. You kill them, somebody, today, and he go to jail for 100 years tomorrow. Both sides lose," said Lamont Evans, supervisor for The Restorative Project.
As SC2 expands, the hope for The Restorative Project is more staff and opportunities to reach more of the community.
INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood
