Violence Free-Zone Inititive

The National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (NCNE) will implement the Violence Free Zone Initiative(VFZ), a national program created by NCNE to support the reduction of youth violence and rebuild communities in specific geographic areas across the country. During the grant period, selected organizations affiliated with NCNE and operating Violence Free Zones (VFZ) will seek a quantifiable reduction in youth violence and civil disorder in their respective communities, while also solidifying other gains they have already made. Program elements to be funded include technical assistance to strengthen youth gang intervention and mediation; character coaching, mentoring and life skills development; substance abuse referral and support; employment assessment, training, and placement; educational opportunities; community development; and enlistment of youth advisors to aid in keeping the peace in high-crime neighborhoods and schools. The project will disseminate best practices information to newly identified sites.Perfomance measures on the reduction of youth violence as measured by arrest data will be reported to OJJDP from the following sites: Dallas, TX; Milwaukee, WI; Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; and Atlanta, GA. Additionally NCNE will report on the number of communities that have been self sustaining during the project period and will report on the number of new violence free zones established.nca/ncf