US Attorney General Holder lauds Minneapolis’ youth violence prevention initiative

US Attorney General Holder lauds Minneapolis’ youth violence prevention initiative

US Attorney General Holder lauds Minneapolis’ youth violence prevention initiative

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United States Attorney General Eric Holder and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, joined United States Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, on Friday, May 27 to celebrate the positive results of Minneapolis’ comprehensive Youth Violence Prevention initiative. The Blueprint for Action Youth Violence Prevention Conference, co-sponsored by the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Foundation, reviewed the successes of the initiative which began in 2008 and is an ongoing, multi-year collaboration in 22 Minneapolis neighborhoods that treats youth violence as a public-health epidemic that requires a holistic, multi-faceted response.

Attorney General Holder observed that the “great strength” of Minneapolis’ approach is that it recognizes that violence among and directed toward young people is not only a public-safety issue — it’s also a public-health issue. And it demands a public-health response.”

The Youth Violence Prevention initiative began as a response to a spike in violent crime in Minneapolis in 2005-06 that data revealed was driven by violence by and against youth. That comprehensive, collaborative, public-health approach has led to safer youth and a safer community. Since 2006, the number of youth arrested for or suspected in violent crime has dropped 56%. In the same period, the number of incidents involving guns and youth has dropped 58%.

The decrease in youth violence has driven a sharp decline in overall crime rates in Minneapolis. In 2010, citywide violent crime in Minneapolis fell to a 28-year low. In addition, in 2011 so far, violent crime in Minneapolis has fallen 16% more compared to the same period in 2010.

The initiative is guided by the four goals of the initiative’s Blueprint for Action, which are to: 1) connect every youth to a trusted adult; 2) intervene at the first sign that youth are at risk of violence; 3) restore youth who have gone down the wrong path; and 4) unlearn the culture of violence in the community.

Comprehensive efforts inspired by the Blueprint’s goals have not only cut youth violence, they have led to greater numbers of high-quality summer jobs for youth, higher graduation rates in Minneapolis Public Schools and greater numbers of graduates attending college free of charge, among other positive results.

Also participating in the conference were youth, community organizers and organizers, educators, faith leaders, public-health professionals and law-enforcement professionals, among others. The conference was organized as an opportunity for youth, community members and policy makers to assess results and challenges going forward — and above all, to listen to and learn from each other.

Selected results of the Blueprint for Action: Preventing Youth Violence in Minneapolis:

Decrease in youth arrested for or suspected in violent crime, 2006-10: 56%
Decrease in incidents involving guns and youth, 2006-10: 58%
Decrease in firearm-related assault injuries of youth, 2006-10: 36%
Decrease in percent of Minneapolis 9th graders who strongly agree that “illegal gang activity is a problem at this school”: from 42% in 2007 to 28% in 2010
Decrease in homicides of youth, 2006-09: 77%
Decrease in curfew arrests, 2006-10: 57%
Decrease in number of pregnancies per 1,000 youth aged 15-17, 2006-09: 36%
Increase in number of youth annually in STEP-UP and other City of Minneapolis job programs, 2005-10: 44%
Number of youth in STEP-UP and other City of Minneapolis job programs: 13,064 since 2005
Increase in Minneapolis Public Schools high-school graduation rates: from 55% in 2005 to 73% in 2010
Number of Minneapolis Public Schools graduates attending college free of charge under Minneapolis Promise: 1,648
Selection of Youth Violence Prevention tools in Minneapolis:
The Minneapolis Promise, an innovative cluster of coordinated efforts that eliminate barriers to college for Minneapolis students. The Minneapolis Promise provides young people with high-quality summer jobs, privately-funded College and Career Centers in every public high school that help them plan a vision for their future, and financial assistance to attend college.
Streetreach, a partnership between the City and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to directly and personally engage at-risk youth in four neighborhoods who are not otherwise engaged in positive opportunities.
Bike Cops for Kids, which takes Minneapolis police officers who serve in Minneapolis Public Schools during the year and puts them on bikes in eight neighborhoods during the summer to continue build relationships with children and youth, and promote public safety by giving away free bike helmets and bikes.
The Minneapolis Youth Congress, an organization of 55 teens in 8th through 12th grade from neighborhoods across Minneapolis who collaborate with elected officials to create and influence public policies that positively affect local youth.
The Juvenile Supervision Center, a partnership with Hennepin County that provides safe supervision and other needed services to youth who have been picked up for truancy, curfew or other low-level violations that do not require secure detention. The goal of the center is to halt a youth’s progress into the juvenile-justice system and increase connections to school and positive behavior.
Speak Up Minneapolis, an anonymous tip line that allows youth to phone or text reports of potential violence including weapons in schools, parks, libraries or other locations.
A protocol at two Minneapolis hospitals for youth victims of violence that comprehensively evaluates the social, economic, medical, chemical and legal risk factors that the youth faces and makes appropriate referrals for help to community-based agencies.
The North 4 Project, an intensive supportive-employment program for 30 gang-involved youth in four neighborhoods that have been deeply affected by violence and the recession.
B.U.I.L.D and the Gang Prevention Mentoring Project, both designed to strengthen and mentor youth who may be gang-affiliated and help them develop personal strengths, relationships and commitments to education and community.
Community Power Against Violence, a media and mobilization campaign in, with and for communities experiencing youth violence.
A toolkit of youth violence prevention initiatives for youth, families, practitioners and community.
Visit http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/yv.asp for complete information on Minneapolis’ youth violence prevention initiative.

May 27, 2011