6️⃣ strategies to stop gun violence in our communities

[ACTION] Tell Congress to invest in community safety Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress To make sure you never miss an email from us, please add progress@americanprogress.org to your contacts or safe senders list. Thanks for staying connected with us! Six ways to prevent gun violence in our communities [A voluntary prekindergarten teacher demonstrates bringing together single words into compound words during class at a Florida child care center, October 2024. (Getty/Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service)]( Photo credit: Getty Images This summer, the U.S. surgeon general issued a first-of-its-kind, [landmark advisory]( declaring firearm violence an urgent public health crisis, pointing to its pervasive spread into our schools, homes, and public spaces. Thousands of lives are cut short every year due to this senseless and preventable violence, and even more live with its everyday consequences. A [new report]( from the Center for American Progress outlines six ways in which cities and counties can reduce gun violence and foster safer communities: - Invest in community-based, civilian-led strategies and create government infrastructure capable of coordinating and supporting them. Offices of violence prevention and community violence intervention programs can play a role in violence interruption strategies. - Improve police strategies and accountability for serious crime. When community members have low trust in law enforcement’s ability to solve serious crime, those at risk of being both victims and perpetrators are more likely to choose other means of protection and justice, increasing the likelihood of retaliatory violence. - Improve the built environments of neighborhoods and expand access to public health and housing. Given the concentrated nature of gun violence within cities and counties, strategies focusing on investing in the most affected neighborhoods can be pivotal for long-term community revitalization. - Support survivors of crime in the immediate aftermath and throughout ongoing investigations. Research suggests individuals served by trauma recovery centers experience a nearly 40 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms. - Tailor solutions to community needs through improved data collection and sharing. Improving data collection enables cities to target gun crime and understand its underlying factors. - Invest in programs to increase economic and youth opportunities. Expanding economic opportunities in affected communities can help create durable and stable living conditions and provide communities with the tools needed to thrive. There is a path to preventing gun violence in communities across the country. These [evidence-based strategies]( can address the root of violence, build safe and thriving communities, and create paths to healing. [Read more now]( Act now to make our communities safer Every [11 minutes]( someone’s life is lost to gun violence in the United States. In an average year, this public health crisis claims more than 40,000 lives and wounds twice as many. The Break the Cycle of Violence Act would allocate $5 billion in federal grants for community violence intervention programs and $1.5 billion for workforce initiatives that are proven to reduce gun violence. Friend, tell Congress to invest in safer communities by passing the Break the Cycle of Violence Act. [I want to take action]( NEW VIDEO: ‘Talk about a game changer’ A major student loan milestone: 1 million public service workers have been approved for #StudentLoan cancellation thanks to the Biden-Harris administration. Eric Fitz shares his relief story. [Screenshot of Eric’s video. Text on screen, “$125,000 were forgiven.”]( [Share this video]( What we learned from pandemic-era child care funding [A voluntary prekindergarten teacher demonstrates bringing together single words into compound words during class at a Florida child care center, October 2024. (Getty/Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service)]( Photo credit: Getty Images It’s no secret that early learning programs—which provide high and lasting economic and societal returns—are some of the most important investments the United States can make. If a budget reflects collective values, surely programs for young children should be high on the list of priorities. However, policymaking has historically undervalued and underinvested in these crucial programs. Pandemic-era investments marked a key shift to prioritize children and families, and Americans saw in real time the resulting positive impact on the child care sector, family well-being, and the economy overall. While federal relief funds have expired, many states have continued the progress they made addressing child care challenges. That momentum must continue at all levels of government to secure robust investments and make lasting changes to the sector. Research shows that affordable, high-quality child care supports family well-being, increasing not only [financial stability]( and [workforce participation]( but also children’s early social, emotional, and [cognitive development]( which sets them up for success in school and throughout life. Thoughtful, resourced policies are crucial for the child care sector to meet families’ needs by driving down costs, investing in the retention and well-being of the early educator workforce, and providing high-quality care. [Keep reading]( RSVP today: ‘Leveraging Technology To Equip K-12 Students for Success’ [Images of panelists and their titles. Text reads: Upcoming event. Leveraging Technology To Equip K-12 Students for Success. Keynote remarks: Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Moderator: Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Director of the Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings. Panelist: Dr. Punya Mishra, Director of Innovative Learning Futures and Professor, Arizona State University. Panelist: Kevin Johnstun, Management and Program Analyst & Al Team Co-lead, U.S. Department of Education. Panelist: Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO, National Center for Learning Disabilities. Join the Center for American Progress, along with technology industry leaders and lawmakers, for an engaging discussion on leveraging technology to equip students for academic achievement and success in today’s workforce. Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. ET. Text in the bottom left reads “Photos: Panelists’ and moderator’s teams.” The CAP logo is in the bottom right corner. ]( Photo credit: Getty Images As technology changes the ways in which we learn and interact with the world, education leaders and policymakers must equip schools with the resources necessary to encourage innovation and incorporate modern and accessible educational technology in the classroom. Join us for a [panel discussion]( on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT, that will bring together education leaders and stakeholders to discuss current challenges and opportunities to advance education and prepare students for a changing world through the use of technology. [RSVP Now]( This panel discussion will be a culminating event to a [technology series]( from CAP’s K-12 Education Policy team, which highlights the skepticism about and opportunities of technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, and recommendations to address digital literacy and accessibility disparities in the K-12 education system. Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]