Preface
This post is dedicated to the life and legacy of Dr. Aquil Basheer — a commander, teacher, and truth teller whose impact on the field of Community Violence Intervention is immeasurable. Dr. Basheer led with integrity, demanded excellence, he challenged all of us to lead with discipline, purpose, and love for our people. He spoke truth without fear and taught that our work means nothing if we are not grounded in integrity and principle. In honor of him, I share this op-ed — one he urged me to publish — as a continuation of that truth-telling tradition and a call to action for our field amid deepening challenges.
On April 22, 2025, an email from the Department of Justice reverberated across the landscape of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs, delivering the disheartening news that federal grant funding would be halted. This decision, amounting to approximately $811 million, sparked outrage among advocates and practitioners who recognize the critical role these funds play in addressing gun violence in historically marginalized communities.
The rationale behind this budgetary ax—labeling CVI initiatives as misaligned with current administrative priorities—was ill-conceived and potentially detrimental to public safety.
Today, we received news of another setback. A federal court ruled against CVI in our challenge to the Department of Justice’s funding cuts, despite the judge’s condemnation of the decision itself, stating, “Defendants’ rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence. No federal agency, especially the Department of Justice, should conduct itself in such manner.” While this acknowledgment from the court is significant, it does little to alleviate the impact of losing essential funding. We may have lost this battle, but we are committed to continuing the fight.
CVI has emerged as an effective strategy over the last three decades, incorporating a public health approach to combat gun violence. In fact, studies show that CVI programs can reduce shootings by as much as 60 percent while significantly decreasing arrests for violent crimes. During an era of increasing polarization, the practice of CVI has garnered bipartisan support, calling attention to the urgent need for innovative solutions to some of our most pressing problems. However, the latest cuts reflect a concerning trend. In this case, it seems that the decision to prioritize taking already allocated resources away from many demonstrably effective community-led strategies was more about the administration’s interpretation that this work represented diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as they abhor anything DEI. This misstep overlooks the public necessity of dedicating resources to these initiatives at the expense of public safety.
While I staunchly disagree with the current administration’s approach, I also acknowledge a troubling reality within the CVI space itself. It is true that there was some swamp cleaning to be done. Many organizations, seeking to capitalize on available funding, failed to demonstrate an experience with CVI and/or an ability to implement effective intervention strategies. Many more lacked the capacity to manage the resources they received, and a flood of so-called CVI experts and newcomers raised red flags about the sustainability and accountability of our field. It’s disheartening to witness a sector that is dedicated to saving lives devolve into a battleground for financial gains, but that is a reality we must confront.
So how do we move forward from this setback?
The first step is to conduct a thorough self-assessment within the CVI community. It’s time to tighten up our house, expel misaligned motivations, and reaffirm and certify our commitment to our mission. We must not only advocate for the restoration of funding but also hold ourselves accountable for the efficacy and integrity of our sector practices. By setting higher standards and creating a framework for transparency, we can eliminate instances of misuse and foster trust with both funders and communities at large.
CVI is about more than funding; it is about lives—lives that are frequently intertwined with the history of systemic violence and inequity. As we challenge the cuts made by the DOJ, we must also seize this opportunity to redefine our purpose and renew our dedication to evidence-informed interventions that truly heal and uplift communities.
In this hard moment, we find ourselves heartbroken and concerned for the field, but we cannot lose hope. The message must be clear: our work is a significant strategy for enhancing public safety and quality of life for vulnerable communities.
In the words of Commander Aquil Basheer, “instead of allowing these cuts to lead us to despair, let them motivate us to rise stronger. Let us come together to sharpen our focus, elevate our practices, and ensure that when the conversation arises for CVI funding once again, we are not just recipients but well-prepared leaders in the push for a safer, more equitable future for all.” If we commit to becoming the stewards of change that we aspire to be, we can turn this moment of adversity into a powerful catalyst for growth and transformation.
The time for action is now. Let’s seize this moment—not only to advocate for the future of funding but to ensure that our work remains as impactful as it should be. Together, we can redefine what it means to be a Community Violence Intervention organization and emerge from this experience with codified standards, renewed vigor, and a more focused purpose.