City of Champaign in Partnership with Acclivus Inc. Host Community Meetings for Street Outreach and Violence Interruption under the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint
On Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30, 2025, community members are encouraged to attend meetings hosted by the City of Champaign and Acclivus Inc. These meetings will provide information on street outreach goals and objectives for Champaign, local hiring opportunities for street outreach and violence interruption, and provide an opportunity to meet and greet […]
Equity and Engagement Visits Chicago Mayor’s Office of Community Safety
On September 19 and 20, 2025, the Community Safety and Justice Division, together with the SU Institute HEEAR along with members of our evaluation team, met with the Chicago Mayor’s Office of Community Safety. We spent two full days collaborating and sharing ideas on gun violence prevention, community violence interventions, and broader community safety and […]
The Community Safety and Justice Division Hosts the Blueprint Partner Quarterly Meeting
The Community Safety & Justice Division recently convened with Blueprint Partners and members of the evaluation team for the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint quarterly strategic meeting, reaffirming their shared commitment to fostering a safer, more connected Champaign. The agenda was thoughtfully designed to balance meaningful policy dialogue with interactive team-building activities, encouraging both reflection […]
City Hosts Community Gun Violence Response Meeting
In response to a recent uptick in gun violence, the City of Champaign’s Department of Equity & Engagement hosted a Community Gun Violence Response Meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. The meeting brought together community members, City leaders, elected officials, and representatives from local non-profit organizations, all united by a shared commitment […]
Neighborhood Network Conference Videos Now Airing on CGTV
Two more sessions from the 2025 Champaign Neighborhood Network Conference are now available for viewing on CGTV and Vimeo. These sessions were presented by the Equity and Engagement Department, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve public safety and community collaboration. The first session covers the Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint Update. This discussion offers historical context on […]
Safe States 2024 Annual Injury and Violence Prevention Conference
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 […]
Community Canvasing
On July 28, 2024 a tragic gun violence incident that took the lives of two 18-year-olds in the community. The Equity and Engagement Department staff, aided by the Neighborhood Ambassadors, and Summer YES intern, Iris Kim, canvassed the area surrounding the Mattis North Apartment complex throughout the week of July 29. Flyers were passed around […]
EDDIT Site Visit and Symposium
On June 5 and 6, 2024, staff from Equity and Engagement, Public Works, and Neighborhood Services Departments participated in the Equitable Development Data Insight Training (EDDIT) site visit. EDDIT, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, offers specialized data analysis and storytelling training for nonprofit, community, and government organizations dedicated to promoting urban equity in […]
East Central Illinois Women Attorney’s Association (ECIWAA) Presentation
On May 21, 2024, Rachel Joy, from the Equity and Engagement Department presented during a meeting of the East Central Illinois Women Attorney’s Association (ECIWAA) at Silver Creek Restaurant. The focus of the presentation was the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint. A focus on partnerships with community organizations, law enforcement and victim advocacy served as […]
DREAAM | Effective Black Parents Family Dinner
On April 17, 2024, staff from the Equity and Engagement Department were invited to participate in the Effective Black Parents family dinner hosted by Driven to Reach Excellence & Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM). Justice Victim Advocate, Eric Toga and Impact Outreach Worker, Kellen Brown were invited to DREAAM by Tracy Dace to give a […]