"Introudction to Cease Fire"

Please don’t shoot. I want to grow up.

NEW DIRECTIONS

New Director

Ceasefire is an organization that defines themselves as an evidence-based public health approach to reducing shootings and killings. Since founding the organization in 1995, our previous director, Dr. Gary Slutkin has taken great pride in the concept of treating neighborhood gang violence, much as the medical profession would treat the onset of a disease. The methods employed rely greatly on intervention. This has proven to be very successful.

Shootings

Down

Hotspots

Cooler

Gang homicide decline

Auburn Gresham 17% 15%involvement in homicide downreciprocal killings down

Englewood34%

Logan Square 22%gang involvement in homicide downreciprocal killings down

Rogers Park 40%

Southwest 24/–27%gang involvement in homicide down

West Humbolt Park 16% 17%

East Garfield Park not evaluated not evaluated reciprocal killings

down

[i Changes in Violence Due to the Program

MIRROR THE SHIFT

From disease treatment to preventive care.

WHAT IS THE ATTRACTION?Gangs provide a false sense of•Family•Belonging•Safety•Purpose•Bonding

Involvement in performance arts provides a real sense of

•Belonging•Purpose•Family•Bonding•Community•Accomplishment

Universal Themes that young people have

related to throughout history can be

explored through the performance arts.

MOVING FORWARD

FOCUS ON GANG RECRUITMENT PREVENTION

FOCUS ON DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE ARTS PROGRAMS

FOCUS ON AVOIDING THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF GANG MEMBERSHIP – LEAVING THE GANG.