Philadelphia (June 29, 2022) – The Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice & Public Safety (CJPS) today shared the results of a 12-month independent program evaluation for the pilot year (2022-2023) of the Community Expansion Grant program (CEG). The focus of CEG is to provide direct trauma-informed healing and restorative practices or safe havens and mentorship programs in the neighborhoods most affected by gun violence.
Overall, the results were positive. The evaluation underscores the need for sustained investment to maximize impact. The report also makes several recommendations to strengthen the program for the next cohort of grantees.
Applicants were eligible only if they had annual operating budgets below $15 million and a proven track record of working in neighborhoods most affected by gun violence. Preference was also given to organizations serving Black and Brown boys and men aged 16 to 34. These criteria guaranteed that CEG grantees were small- or medium-sized, predominantly Black- and Brown-led community-based orgs. The emphasis on Black and Brown boys and men aims to address historic disinvestment in Black and Brown communities, by bringing City funding directly to these communities.
In October, 2021, $13.5 million was awarded in grants to 31 organizations, and 28 organizations completed their grant-funded programming.serving Black and Brown boys and men (ages 16-34) in areas most impacted by gun violence. Twelve of the programs were awarded $400,000 or more. Twenty six of the 28 grantees fully participated in the evaluation.
The program evaluation was conducted by Equal Measure, a Philadelphia-based organization that specializes in evaluation, capacity building, technical assistance, program design and communication. In addition to the Equal Measure team, specialists from Research for Action, Evident Change, and Cities United led individual components of the evaluation.
The most significant finding is that most of the grantees are reaching the intended audience of the CEG program: Black and Latinx men ages 16-34. Seventy-two percent of participants are black; twenty-two percent are Latinx.
“While that finding may seem broad and basic – it’s a big deal,” said Senior Director for CJPS, Erica Atwood. “The evaluation shows that seventy-six percent of the program participants in this age bracket had lived experience, meaning they were victims of gun violence or had families, friends or lived in a community impacted by gun violence. That is why this program was created – to reach this exact population, at a specific age, with hopes of connecting them to support by people from their own community to get them on a path to healing and opportunity.”
The grant program has served more than 4,831 participants through CEG grantees. Results of a survey administered to participants by the independent evaluators revealed that most program participants had a “positive overall experience with their program.” Specifically, most survey respondents (out of 439) reported that the programming they engaged in provided needed services and supports (85%), their participation in the programming made them feel safer in the community (75%), improved their situation after participating in the program (77%), they were satisfied with this program (86%), and they would recommend their program to others (87%).
The evaluation also found that CEG programs are aligned with CEG goals and have the potential to impact gun violence in Philadelphia with more time and further funding. A large percentage of participants in programs reported positive experiences with programs and program staff. Beyond this, many participants gained new life skills, became more engaged in their communities, and received referrals to external supportive services.
“I am proud of what this pilot program achieved right out of the gate as a first of its-kind program,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “There have been some bumps, but we expected that in a program that is new and being tested to see what works, and what doesn’t. In the face of a crisis as urgent and complex as gun violence, it is worthwhile to explore every possible solution and resource. This program was also implemented during the pandemic, which is a huge obstacle to navigate, and I am encouraged by the findings of the independent evaluation.”
Mayor Kenney added, “Success does not happen overnight and persistence is part of the process. We have an incredible team working on this initiative and I know the second cohort is going to continue some of the work that has been started, and new programs and ideas will be tested and funded so we can keep improving the model.”
To recognize the success of the first cohort and acknowledge the progress being made in Philadelphia communities, grantees need an opportunity to continue their life saving work. Now, 24 of the 28 who completed the first cohort are receiving renewals to continue their work in this second cohort. New grantees will be announced later this summer.
“The Community Expansion Grant program is just one of the programs and initiatives in the City’s violence prevention portfolio, but it is a vital one,” said Atwood. “There are many community organizations on the ground throughout Philadelphia doing the life-saving work of violence prevention every day. Many of them do this work on a shoe-string budget, or no budget at all. The CEG program is a way for the City to support the capacity of these essential organizations and to show them that we have their backs, not just symbolically, but financially as well.”
“I really feel like this program helps. It gets people off the streets,” said a focus group participant from Norris Square Community Alliance*, “Younger kids are getting a lot into violence nowadays, and this really could help keep them in a softer environment, a more safe environment where you don’t have to be on 10 all the time and ready to go to war. You can just be comfortable, be yourself, and be in a safe environment where you don’t have to worry about nothing happening to you.”
Some recommendations CJPS plans to implement include prioritizing organizations that focus on targeted outreach to those most at risk of being involved in gun violence; providing training and skill building opportunities for frontline workers; and increasing funding for organizations specializing in providing interventions, conflict resolution, and mediation services.
Following is a list of the renewals for the program’s second cohort:
- African Family Health Organization (AFAHO)
- Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia
- Beyond the Bars
- Black Muslim Men United for a Better Philadelphia/c/o Urban Affairs Coalition
- E.M.I.R. (Every Murder Is Real) Healing Center
- PowerCorpsPHL
- Educators 4 Education LLC
- Impact Services Corp
- ManUpPHL
- Men Who Care of Germantown
- Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, Inc.
- Mothers In Charge (MIC)
- New Leash on Life USA
- New Options More Opportunities
- Nicetown Community Development Corporation
- Norris Square Community Alliance
- OIC Career and Academic Development
- Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates
- The Lighthouse, Inc.
- The Urban League of Philadelphia.
- Timoteo Sports Inc.
- Unity in the Community
- YOACAP / Urban Affairs Coalition
- YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School