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The Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Initiative
Mayor Menino's VIP initiative will focus resources, assets and attention on four very small geographic areas in the City, in an effort to reduce violence and to connect youth and families with services and opportunities.
Using a combination of proven strategies and programs, and by focusing collective effort in small areas, we believe that we can rebuild and strengthen these neighborhoods that have been affected by violent crime. Those strategies will include direct, door-to-door outreach, surveying residents about their needs and connecting those residents with City services. Additionally, the City will form Peace Councils, which will provide a forum for community engagement and problem solving around issues of safety in these communities. Dates for the neighborhood outreach and peace councils are below.
Facilitate the participation of youth in supervised after-school activities in each of 4 targeted communities:
- Identify after-school programs/activities in designated neighborhoods using community centers as the 'hub;' expand activities offered at community centers to meet potential demand (model after 'full-service schools'); improve community center facilities to attract neighborhood youth
- Identify all school-age children in each designated neighborhood and reach out to these families to help link the children to programs
- Arrange for transportation home at the end of the day for youth attending programs at the designated community centers
- Identify and recruit volunteers to serve as mentors
Improve the safety of residents living in each of the 4 targeted neighborhoods by supporting civic engagement and active partnerships between city departments and community residents.
- Convene neighborhood peace councils where residents can join with local business, community leaders and city department staff to identify and address safety concerns
- Map neighborhood assets/challenges with community residents
- Assign a BPHC youth development specialist to each neighborhood to assist w/ the coordination of social support services for youth and their families
- Connect with health centers in targeted communities and pilot the implementation of Project Health at these sites
- Establish liaisons with city departments to respond to identified community concerns.
Provide children/youth and their families with tools and strategies to address identified needs and handle conflict without resorting to violence
- Visit every home in the targeted neighborhoods and offer residents information about available services, programs and supports; help residents link to desired services.
- Convene the Mayor's Violence Prevention Collaborative to assist BPS with implementing a violence prevention curriculum for students in BPS grades K - 8 and offering BPS high school students peer leadership and conflict resolution workshops/trainings; assign BPHC staff to support this initiative at each school in the targeted neighborhoods.
- Implement parenting workshops in community schools that complement the violence prevention curriculum; assign BPHC staff to each community center in targeted neighborhoods to facilitate parent engagement/participation in programs (include offering BPHC home visiting support to parents of infants and young children).
Design a public education/media campaign to promote non-violence among youth
- Assemble youth advisory working groups to help design campaign
- Use multiple media outlets to promote peace message
| Connections with City Services |
Whether a resident of one of these neighborhoods or not, a wealth of services are accessible from the City's website. Connections to some of those services are listed below.
Do you want to get your child into safe after school programs?
Are you concerned about a student who is skipping school or has dropped out?
Are you looking for a job for youth or adults?
Do you need health insurance, want to find a doctor or have a health question?
- Call The Mayor's Health Line
 at 617-534-5050. We speak your language and the call is confidential.
Do you want to make your streets clean and safe?
Do you want help with a tight budget?
- If you are at risk for homelessness or if you are having trouble providing food for your household, call the Shelter Commission at (617)-635-4507.
- If you are at risk of having no heat in your home, call the No Heat Line at (617)-635-5322.
- If you are a homeowner facing foreclosure on your home, contact the Department of Neighborhood Development at (617)-635-3880
- If you are a renter and are having major difficulties with your landlord, contact the Rental Housing Resource Center at (617)-635-4200
- If you need help with your taxes, call Boston Tax Help at 617-918-5275.
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Outreach Dates
As part of the VIP initiative, volunteers wearing City of Boston VIP identification tags will be in the following neighborhoods to deliver backpacks with information about programs and services in your community.
Bowdoin St. / Geneva Ave.:
November 27, 5:30 - 8:30
November 29, 5:30 - 8:30
Grove Hall:
November 15, 5:30 - 8:30
November 17, 2:00 - 5:00
Morton St. / Norfolk St.:
November 18, 2:00 - 5:00
November 20, 5:30 - 8:30
Orchard Gardens:
November 17, 1:00 - 5:00
November 20, 2:00 - 6:00
These volunteers will be visiting a targeted group of blocks within these neighborhoods. If volunteers came by your home and you were not home, please call 617-635-4500.
Become a VIP Volunteer
If you are a resident of these communities, a city employee committed to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods, or simply a concerned citizen who wants to make a positive difference in our city, please consider volunteering for this important outreach effort.
Contact Volunteer
Coordinator »
Dates of the First Neighborhood Peace Council Events
In these four neighborhoods we will be launching VIP Peach Councils. These councils will include community residents, business and faith-based leaders, and City Staff. The councils will help all of us work together to build peace in your neighborhood. The dates and locations for the first peace council events for each of these neighborhoods is below.
Bowdoin St. / Geneva Ave.:
TMD
Grove Hall:
December 3, 5:00 - 7:00
Holland Community Center
Morton St. / Norfolk St.:
December 5, 6:00 - 8:00
Mildred Avenue Community Center
Orchard Gardens:
December 20, 6:00 - 8:00
Orchard Gardens Community Center
All are welcome to attend. For more information, please call 617-635-4500.
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