On August 20-22, 2024, Jorge Elvir, Community Relations Manager in the Equity & Engagement Department and Dr. Anthony Sullers, Research Associate for the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, had the privilege of attending and presenting at the Safe States 2024 Annual Injury and Violence Prevention Conference, held in Portland. This conference is the premier event for professionals dedicated to injury and violence prevention, bringing together hundreds of experts and advocates from diverse fields, including public health, healthcare, academia, community-based organizations, and government agencies.
During the conference, they delivered three separate presentations, each focusing on different aspects of the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint. Jorge presented twice, first providing an overview of the Blueprint and then diving deeper into the root causes of community gun violence. Dr. Sullers focused on the evaluation process of the Blueprint, highlighting the critical partnerships involved in its implementation and the outcomes of our efforts.
The presentations were well-received, sparking meaningful discussions and providing valuable insights to fellow professionals committed to reducing injury and violence in their communities. This conference was an excellent opportunity to share the work of the Equity and Engagement Department, learn from others, and strengthen our collective efforts in injury and violence prevention.
For additional information, visit https://www.safestates.org/