Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Joins Everytown for Gun Safety to Commemorate Black History Month as City Moves Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Program Expansion

Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones joins Cure Violence frontline workers, gun violence prevention advocates and survivors, and Everytown for Gun Safety to commemorate Black History Month with a video highlighting efforts to reduce gun violence in St. Louis. The video, titled St. Louis: A Community of Resiliency, emphasizes how St. Louis bucked national crime trends, witnessing a 25 percent reduction in homicides between 2020 and 2021. Mayor Jones became co-chair of Everytown group Mayors Against Illegal Guns earlier this year and emphasizes the necessity of continuing to try innovative solutions, like expansion of community violence intervention programs (CVI), through the American Rescue Plan.

“Making our neighborhoods safer requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “My administration is ready to work with advocates and organizations like Everytown to continue the progress our city has seen in the past year. That includes expanding our use of community violence intervention programs to connect residents to resources and support.”

“Black communities bear the brunt of the physical, emotional, and financial burden that comes with our nation’s gun violence crisis,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Senior Vice President of Movement Building at Everytown for Gun Safety. “Mayor Tishaura O. Jones is leading the way alongside local community leaders against this public health crisis with bold solutions to combat gun violence in St Louis. We’re grateful for her work as a co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and as a leader in this movement – this month and beyond.”

Mayor Jones has joined frontline workers with both Cure Violence and Behavioral Health Response (BHR) to hear from them about violence interruption efforts and the positive impact of programs like Cops & Clinicians and 911 call diversion on St. Louis communities. Mayor Jones remains committed to strengthening our efforts to help connect the right professional to the right call to save police time and resources.

Later today, the City of St. Louis will begin the process to formally release Requests for Proposals (RFP) to expand CVI programs in St. Louis using $5.5 million from the American Rescue Plan. CVI expansion is one facet of the $135 million direct relief package from the federal American Rescue Plan Act that Mayor Jones signed into law in 2021 to improve public health, public safety, and provide economic support for residents. From youth sports leagues to investing directly in 9,300 families with $500 direct payments, St. Louis is trying new and innovative methods to support communities, moving as quickly as possible within federal rules and guidelines established by the Board of Aldermen.