End Community Violence Now (ECVN) is proud to announce its launch as a groundbreaking statewide initiative designed to create a unified ecosystem for reducing community gun violence in Delaware. With a mission to break cycles of violence and foster safer communities, ECVN represents a bold, collaborative approach to addressing one of Delaware’s most pressing challenges, through public -private partnership.

Join Us for the Launch Event
Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: CSC Station, 112 S. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

This event brings together survivors, community leaders, philanthropic organizations, government, and healthcare to collaborate on innovative strategies for ending communityviolence. The launch event will feature notable guests, Deputy Secretary Daniel Walker of Delaware Health and Social Services, Tynetta Brown, CEO and President, of Philanthropy Delaware, Mike McLively, Policy Director for Giffords Center for Violence Intervention.

“When we talk about community violence in Delaware, we are primarily focused on violence that involves a firearm,” said Lauren Footman, Executive Director of ECVN. “The overall gun death rate increased 16% over the past decade in Delaware, which does not account for non-fatal incidents of community violence by firearm.” Footman continued, “This initiative is about more than just reducing violence—it’s about healing and preventing its ripple effects. By leveraging the power of collaboration, we can create lasting solutions to a complex, systemic problem.”

Gun violence leaves direct and indirect scars on communities, including injury, trauma, and economic repercussions. ECVN seeks to heal and prevent these effects by fostering a cohesive ecosystem for change. By integrating intervention, enforcement, prevention, healing, and macro-level change, ECVN offers a comprehensive strategy for reducing gun violence.ECVN aims to address the factors that inhibit consistent reduction of community violence, which include:

● Insufficient sustainable funding for violence reduction initiatives.
● Fragmented coordinating among organizations and partners involved in violence
reduction.
● Absence of robust data infrastructure to guide informed decision-making and strategy
development.

“I am proud to reflect on the journey that has brought us to this moment,” said Erin Booker, Board Chair of ECVN. “This is a journey that began with a shared vision and unwavering commitment to reducing community violence, through collective impact. From the very beginning, the goal has been clear: to bring together diverse voices and expertise in a collective effort to make a lasting impact.”

End Community Violence was envisioned and is backed by key partners including the State of Delaware, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the Welfare Foundation, Longwood Foundation, and ChristianaCare, all of whom have committed as early investors in this groundbreaking initiative. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to long-term change, ECVN is poised to transform the landscape of community violence prevention, ensuring a safer, more unified future for Delaware

For more information email: [email protected]

Together, we can create a safer, more unified Delaware.