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>View discussions about this entry Country: United States
Organization: One Vision One Life
Year the initative began (yyyy) 2003
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
Describe your program or new idea in one sentence. One Vision One Life (OVOL) uses street level interventions and ongoing case management to intervene in and prevent gang and gun violence.
What makes your initiative uniquely positioned to create change in your community? OVOL is uniquely positioned to create change because of it's unique structure. OVOL employs ex-gang members (Community Coordinators) now committed to changing and living a positive life. Some of these men have been incarcerated, but not all. These men have the ability to reach youth in their community that may be otherwise unreachable to an ordinary case manager. Even more important, because of the history these men have, some of the most at-risk youth will respect their direction and guidance over that of anyone else. Furthermore, OVOL strives to provide employment for youth and adults who are tired of struggling - to earn money, avoid incarceration, and many times to survive. Not only does the organization provide employment, it assists with professional training and education (via referrals) in an effort to create upward mobility for the men newly employed. This structure, complemented by professional supervisory staff, positions OVOL to do great and impactful work in this community.
Describe how you organize and carry out your work? Teams of Community Coordinators(CCs) are established in neighborhoods where gang and gun violence is prevalent. Those Community Coordinators provide case management services to 10-15 at-risk youth. The core of the program, however, is "night outreach" and "violence interventions." Night outreach consists of the CCs canvassing neighborhoods during late night hours and providing intervention/conflict resolution when needed. Additionally, professional staff and CCs resond, publicly and behind the scenes. This allows OVOL to assist in preventing retaliation violence, which often takes multiple lives.
What is your plan to scale and expand your innovation into your community and beyond? OVOL began programming in three target areas in the city of Pittsburgh. While violence in these neighborhoods decreased, other neighborhoods had escalating levels of violence. In response to the need, OVOL added two additional city communities in 2006. The county Housing Authority also came to OVOL and requested our presence in two communities outside the city, but within the county. OVOL has successfully expanded to those communities and is now firmly established there. Before adding new neighborhoods, OVOL is certain to lay a strong foundation in neighborhoods presently served. Although OVOL is operating in the most violence prone neighborhoods, there is increasing violence in neighborhoods in which we are not currently funded to operate. OVOL wants to both increase programming in neighborhoods where we are already operating, and expand our efforts into new neighborhoods. Youth in many neighborhoods will lose their life to gang/gun violence-OVOL wants to provide quality services to as many of those persons as possible to avoid death or incarceration.
What other resources, institutional, or policy needs would be necessary to help sustain and scale up your idea? OVOL would like to establish small satellite offices in each of the regions of the city - north,south, east and west, as there is now just one centrally located office. This would provide a safe, comfortable meeting place for Community Coordinators to meet with clients without territorial threats being a factor. Additionally, OVOL would like to promote Community Coordinators who have completed educational goals and have obtained the necessary experience to manage these small, neighborhood offices, thereby providing mobility for CCs. Institutionally, funding to provide professional development training and education for the Community Coordinators would also be ne
Additional funding would also enable us to provide employment training and employment opportunities to young men. OVOL understands that once violence is averted and negative, illegal activities curbed, there needs to be a viable alternative for these young men. Funding would allow us to provide stipends to young men engaged in educational or employment programming as well as provide items necessary to secure employment. Describe your impact in one sentence, commenting on both the individual and community levels. One Vision One Life works to reduce crime and violence by reaching out and providing opportunities for a better way of life.
What impact has your work achieved to date? OVOL's main objective is to prevent targeted gun violence, most often associated with gang activity in the city of Pittsburgh. However it is not possible to know how many violent incidents OVOL's efforts actually prevented. What is possible is documentation of conflict interventions and mediations. These mediations provide resolution prior to the conflict escalating to a violent level. In 2006, OVOL staff documented approximately 50 major conflict resolution meetings. Of those 50 conflicts, 41 percent invovled a weapon and of those, a gun was involved in 84 percent of cases. Staff indicated in 55 percent of those mediations that gun violence was likely if OVOL staff had not been present.
Aside from statistics, OVOL provides support for community residents. OVOL Community Coordinators have been able to refer caseload clients for a myriad of services including educational, employment, drug and alcohol, mental health, housing, etc. Additionally, OVOL provides community activities and events for the neighborhoods in which it presently provides services.
What measure do you use to gauge your impact and why? OVOL employs several evaluative measures to guage the program's impact. Our most glaring measure is the presence or lack of violent incidents in our target areas. This is how we guage the impact we have in the community. For individuals, we look at incidents of violence prior to beginning the program and maintain weekly records to indicate progress or lack of progress. Client recidivism statistics along with anecdotal data documenting successes and individual progress (i.e. completing educational program or gaining employment).
How is your initiative currently being financed and how would you finance further expansion and/or replication? One Vision One Life is currently financed by multiple funding streams. Local government, state government and foundation grants continue to sustain OVOL's programming. Additionally, OVOL has been approached by school districts and other institutions to provide violence prevention services on a contractual basis.
Financing for expansion will be sought from both foundations committed to long-term support. Additionally, the United States Department of Justice and the Richard King Mellon Foundation are funding an independent evaluation of the program. This evaluation will make it possible to pursue more federal and state funding in the future, thereby providing viable means to financially implement expansion and sustain programming. Provide information on your current finances and organization: A. Annual Budget - 1.5 Million
B. Annual Revenue - 1.5 million C. Local Governement - 16% State Government - 16% Foundations - 66% Funds totaling 1.5 million are currently pending with 33% of that being from local government and 66% being from state government. D. Full-time - 8 Who are your potential partners and allies? OVOL partners with a myriad of agencies. Currently, OVOL's key partners include The City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Housing Authorities, County Department of Human Services, U.S. Attorney's Office, local law enforcement (city, county, school and transit police), District Attorney, Public Defender, Allegheny County Bureau of Corrections, M.E.'s Office, and various school districts. Additionally OVOL partners with many social service agencies to provide services to youth via mutual referrals. OVOL is currently cultivating a relationship with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
Who are your potential investors? Because violence prevention services are needed in so many venues, our potential investors are varied. Cityand County Housing Authorities solicit our services via contracts to keep their communities safe. Likewise, communities outside the city have requested OVOL's presence as their levels of violence increase. Additionally, school districts, both within the city and outside, have requested and received an OVOL presence in their schools. Finally, governement agencies and law enforcement agencies have invested in OVOL, as decreasing crime and violence is mutually beneficial.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. In 2003, Allegheny County broke its homicide record. It was at this time that community leaders came together to start the Allegheny County Violence Prevention Initiative, later named One Vision One Life. The goal of One Vision One Life is to prevent targeted violence. This is accomplised by: (1) identifying, training and developing a team of Community Coordinators who are active in, and informed about their communities; (2) systematically collecting and utilizing street-level intelligence to intervene in disputes, turf battles, and gang/group incidents before they become shootings and homicides; (3) reaching out to those at risk for violence with services, jobs, and assistance - so they are no longer at risk for violence; and, (4) intesively documenting and evaluation our efforts.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. Richard Garland is a former gang member from Philadelphia. Because of lifestyle choices, he spent twenty-three and a half years of his life in the criminal justice system. All of his friends are dead, except one, who has been incarcerated for thirty-eight years. He began his education by earning his GED while incarcerated in 1987. In 1996, he attained his Master's degree in Social Work. Abridged for lack of space, Richard Garland is the example is what is possible for our clients.
Contact Information:
Samantha Swartz
Area Manager One Vision One Life (Non-profit 501(c)3) Discussions about this entry |
One Vision One Life - Intervening in Gang Violence on the Streets
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I am a teacher in an urban school district and was encouraged to see a program such as this exists, and quite close to my state. I am wondering about possible replication of this program as you stated you want to see this successful anywhere gang related issues are a problem. We are currently losing many young men, particularly African American men and boys in the streets. I commend you on this innovative idea...it is truly unique and I imagine very effectual. I would be interested to see more regarding the national network you discussed and the statewide network.
If I may ask, how do other agencies respond to working with your staff who have criminal records? From the description, it seems some of them may have substantial criminal histories, if not violent offenses - is there any reluctance by other agencies, institutions, etc. to work with your staff?
I am a teacher in an urban school district and was encouraged to see a program such as this exists, and quite close to my state. I am wondering about possible replication of this program as you stated you want to see this successful anywhere gang related issues are a problem. We are currently losing many young men, particularly African American men and boys in the streets. I commend you on this innovative idea...it is truly unique and I imagine very effectual. I would be interested to see more regarding the national network you discussed and the statewide network.
If I may ask, how do other agencies respond to working with your staff who have criminal records? From the description, it seems some of them may have substantial criminal histories, if not violent offenses - is there any reluctance by other agencies, institutions, etc. to work with your staff?
Hi Samantha, Your violence intervention methods seem to be having a big impact. Congratulations and great work. Its great that you are able to step in before problems get to out of hand. I'm not quite sure I understand how you do it. How do you find out about the conflicts and how do you get to the scene before the violence breaks out? Also, you mention that you reach out to those at rick with services and jobs. What is your job placement rate of the individuals that you work with? Thank you!
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Thank you so much for your question Dana.
Our unique model puts us in the position to learn about targeted violence before it occurs. We have Area Managers (professionals), Community Coordinators (have a history of gang involvement, but have made great strides toward productive living), and we have Violence Interupters (these are our people who are more connected to the street). Most of our Community Coordinators and Violence Interupters have attained a certain status "on the street" that would not make much sense to someone who had not lived in that environment. But often it is the men who were the most viscious or most involved in narcotics that gained credibility on the street. Because our men command respect in their neighborhoods, they are able to now translate that into a positive respect. Community Coordinators bring us the information regarding conflicts. The gang members trust our staff - that is what has made us able to orchestrate truces between rival gangs.
For the job placement rate, are you interested in how many placements we secured or in those who retained the job (and if so for 3, 6, or 9 months?)
Thank you so much for your interest in One Vision One Life. If anything I have said spurs more questions, please send them through!
Samantha