Community Violence Reduction Initiative – a Partner-Driven DIY Project

Written by Tim Buckley, October 2025

Families walking to school. Neighbors sharing meals. Kids playing in the park without worry. These are the moments that make a neighborhood feel safe, and the kind of community every family deserves.

In recent years, concerns about safety in several Salem and Keizer neighborhoods have brought residents, local organizations, and healthcare providers together to build something stronger: a shared vision of safety, belonging, and hope.

The result is the Neighborhood Safety and Community Violence Reduction Initiative (NS/CVRI) — a coordinated plan that balances accountability with compassion. Its goal: to interrupt cycles of harm, support recovery, and equip families with the tools they need to thrive.

Four Interconnected Parts

1. Prevention
   NS/CVRI would strengthen and expand the reach of ten local nonprofit organizations already serving families in high-risk areas.

2. Hospital-Based Services
   Hospitals already provide essential care for those affected by violence. NS/CVRI funding would help extend that care beyond the hospital walls — supporting safe transitions home, connecting survivors with counseling, housing, and ongoing case management to prevent re-injury or retaliation.

3. Call-In Program
   For individuals ready to change course, the Call-In program offers a chance to put down weapons and choose a new way of life.

   1. Participants known to law enforcement and community partners are invited to meet with a coalition of faith, healthcare, and justice leaders.

   2. Together, they hear a clear message: violence has consequences, but help and opportunity are available.

   3. Those willing to change are connected with counseling, education, and job opportunities to help them start anew.

4. Collective Impact Backbone
   The NS/CVRI follows the Collective Impact model described by Stanford Social Innovation Review — a proven framework for cross-sector collaboration. CBEL serves as the backbone organization, coordinating partners, aligning strategies, and ensuring shared accountability.

Voices from the Community

“Simply put, we can anticipate fewer violent incidents, as well as an increased sense of safety and belonging for everyone in our community.” — Kyle Dickinson, Executive Director, Salem Leadership Foundation

“I hope this work creates a Salem where families feel safe walking their children to school, where no more lives are lost to senseless violence, and where those who need help — counseling, housing, treatment, or something else — can get it. A place where we care about our neighbors, even those we haven’t yet met.”
— Leilani Slama, Chief Communications & Community Relations Officer, Salem Health

How You Can Help

“With an issue as complex as community violence, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But we can all make a difference — in our families, our neighborhoods, our jobs, and among the people we influence every day.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
— Kyle Dickinson

You can:

• Participate in a Peace Walk

• Volunteer with youth-serving organizations

• Donate to local nonprofits doing this work

• Or simply pray for shalom — wholeness, well-being, and restored relationships

Together, we can build neighborhoods of safety, belonging, and hope.