A Year of Collective Courage in Philadelphia
As the Civic Coalition to Save Lives (the Coalition) marks its first anniversary, the Chamber acknowledges the ways in which the collaborative initiative has helped support Philadelphia in making strides to address the critical issue of gun violence in our city. This vibrant group of government, civic, business, philanthropic, religious, and community leaders has catalyzed broad support for proven evidence-based gun violence reduction solutions.
This work has maximized the effectiveness of the city’s ongoing initiatives and amplified the contributions of the community-based organizations that have been doing this work for decades. The Chamber is a proud founding partner and continued supporter of the Coalition, as are many of our members.
To commemorate one year of progress, the Coalition recently released a short video highlighting its achievements:
The Birth of a Movement
The journey began in 2021, a time when the city was responding to an unprecedented rise in homicides and other gun-related violence. The Philadelphia Foundation and the William Penn Foundation partnered with the Urban Affairs Coalition, the Chamber, and the Philadelphia Equity Alliance to help catalyze a broad civic effort to drive the adoption of evidence-based and sustainable strategies. Mayor Jim Kenney and his Administration graciously accepted the offer of partnership with a shared goal: reducing gun violence in Philadelphia. A remarkable 26% reduction in homicides since 2021 has resulted from successful, coordinated city-wide intervention efforts.
Strategic and Compassionate Intervention
The Coalition’s focus is supporting intervention efforts that target immediate reduction through data-driven identification of high-risk individuals. This strategic and compassionate approach is guided by three core pillars: coordination, resources, and information. By focusing on intervening with individuals most susceptible to involvement in gun violence, the Coalition has supported efforts that have successfully engaged a significant portion of very high-risk individuals in intervention programs.
A Safer Today for a Safer Tomorrow
The Chamber looks forward to working with the Coalition and new city leadership to support this proven strategy for reducing gun violence, building upon the progress already achieved. This partnership is focused on creating a sustainable environment of safety and prosperity for all businesses and residents of Philadelphia.
Building a Better Philadelphia
As the Coalition continues its important work, the Chamber emphasizes the importance of this crucial initiative to uplift everyone in our city and region. Through continued advocacy and collaboration, we can build the cleaner, safer, and more inclusive Greater Philadelphia of the future.
To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website or contact Kenneth Anderson, Vice President, Civic Affairs, the Chamber, at kanderson@chamberphl.com.
