Newport News Community Safety Initiative

About Our Effort

Gun violence is a nationwide problem. The City of Newport News is committed to addressing this issue by creating a city and region where residents have the support and opportunities they need to thrive. Our goal is to identify issues impacting our city and then invest in community based organizations that address the concerns.

We are adopting a two-phased approach:

Comprehensive Gun Violence and Community Safety Assessment: We are working with the Center for Crime, Equity, and Justice Research and Policy at Christopher Newport University (CNU) to conduct a comprehensive Gun Violence Community Assessment. Our findings will help city leaders and the public understand the most pressing concerns around safety, as well as the root causes and effects of violence in the community. The preliminary results were shared with the city earlier this summer; CNU will release the final report over the next few weeks.
Grants to Community Organizations: The City of Newport News launched a grant program to offer funding to qualified community-based organizations that present solutions to reduce gun violence. We are currently reviewing grant applications and will announce the organizations that received funding in late summer 2022.

Engagement with Community Organizations

We will invest in community-based organizations that demonstrate the capacity to create safe and stronger neighborhoods. Examples of solutions include but are not limited to:

Connecting those at high risk for violence to education, employment, and housing services
Providing mentoring, trauma-informed services and mental health supports to individuals impacted by gun violence
Deterring individuals at high risk for violence from engaging in gun violence
Helping individuals at high risk for violence resolve potentially violent disputes before they occur