Since Minneapolis launched its Blueprint for Action initiative in 2008 to prevent youth violence, the city has seen juvenile violent crime and homicide rates drop. This conference will build Minneapolis's success implementing an innovative public health strategy. By engaging the community and stakeholders to explore additional strategies for preventing violence, Minneapolis can continue making progress and sustain these impressive gains for years to come. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will deliver the keynote address, and UNITY Project Director Rachel Davis will also make brief remarks.

Read the event summary at the City of Minneapolis website for details.

UNITY Project Director Rachel Davis and Neil Rainford of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented "Preventing Violence through UNITY: Lessons Learned from a National Initiative" at a conference in Miami titled Preventing Crime in the Black Community, hosted by the Office of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

UNITY hosted a successful meeting of state health officials to advance state efforts to prevent violence in U.S. cities. Sponsored in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and Safe States Alliance, the meeting made connections between violence and other health issues and community concerns, and participants called the event "transformational." Stay tuned for next steps.

UNITY Project Director Rachel Davis emphasized the value of prevention at the Institute of Medicine Global Violence Prevention Forum's workshop on the social and economic cost of violence. View the meeting agenda and presentations at the event web page.