Safety

Safety is freedom from violence and the threat of violence and is a foundation for health and wellbeing across the life course. Strong relationships and trust, economic and educational opportunity, green spaces and places to gather, and just systems foster hope and contribute to safety at the individual, family, and community level. Importantly, all forms of violence are preventable.

Our work is grounded in a public health approach that addresses community and structural conditions and the root causes of interconnected forms of violence. This includes a focus on community violence, intimate partner and gender-based violence, and firearm violence. We support community collaboratives in implementing community-driven strategies. We partner with public health, housing, education, and other government sectors to shift policies and practices that influence safety. Our training and technical assistance uplifts lived experience and contextual evidence; centers healing, equity, and resilience; and prioritizes community solutions.

Our work strengthens community conditions and structural factors that reduce risk for violence and promote safety. These efforts build local capacity, sustain cross-sector collaboration, and support policies and investments that advance community-determined safety priorities. Over time, this leads to communities where people feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods, where systems act with accountability, and where healing and safety are durable, shared outcomes.