Chicago City Wire

Cook County is hosting several events to encourage violence prevention.

“We’re having conversations on violence prevention, but it’s more than that too,” the county wrote on Facebook. “Join us to learn more about the plans Cook County and the State of Illinois have to create safe and thriving communities.”

The Cook County Government is holding three upcoming virtual events titled “Conversations: Safe & Thriving Communities,” a Facebook event page said. Residents can tune in on April 26, April 28 or May 3 to learn how Cook County plans to use more than $300 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for violence prevention and economic development initiatives.

The Chicago Tribune reported fatal and nonfatal shootings have dropped the first three months of 2022 in the City of Chicago as compared to the same period last year. Statistics show 128 homicides, a reduction of 10, and 508 shootings, down from 582, as of March 31, 2021. Carjacking in 2022 was up 3% compared to this time in 2021. 

The Tribune reported many local leaders are optimistic about the decline in violence in the state.

“We’re a group of people that come from all different departments,” Tamara Mahal, chief coordination officer of the Community Safety Coordination Center, said to the Tribune. “Many of our staff live in the communities that we’re working to serve, in terms of the more violent communities. So I think we have a sense of realism about what the past two years have been like and the challenge that our communities face every day.”

Cook County received $1 billion in federal funds through the ARPA, WTTW reported. Plans are to use $320 million of the funds this year, with $60 million going toward violence prevention programs and $100 million targeted for economic development projects. Another $60 million is earmarked for “health and wellness” programs.

“There are a variety of initiatives that we have been supporting since 2013 and are now working in conjunction with the state and the city to ensure that we make the best possible investments,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said to WTTW.

Asiaha Butler, an Englewood community organizer, is among those hoping the funding makes a difference.

“I am hoping some of the resources that are coming down are actually making it to these efforts,” Butler told the Tribune.  “It shouldn’t be a story that crime is down. That should hopefully be the norm.”