What is Community Violence Intervention (CVI)?
Community Violence Intervention (CVI) is a proactive, evidence-based approach to public safety that treats violence like a public health crisis rather than a purely criminal justice issue. Instead of relying solely on traditional policing, CVI empowers local leaders and "credible messengers" to interrupt the cycle of violence before it starts.
By identifying individuals at the highest risk of being involved in shootings, either as victims or perpetrators, CVI programs provide the mentorship, trauma-informed care, and economic resources necessary to create lasting peace.
How CVI Works: The Core Strategies
Violence Interruption
Hospital-Based Intervention (HVIP)
Hospital-Based Intervention (HVIP)
Trained specialists with lived experience de-escalate street-level conflicts in real-time. Learn more.
Hospital-Based Intervention (HVIP)
Hospital-Based Intervention (HVIP)
Hospital-Based Intervention (HVIP)
Meeting victims at the bedside immediately after an injury to stop retaliatory violence. Learn more.
Credible Messenger Mentorship
Credible Messenger Mentorship
Credible Messenger Mentorship
Connecting high-risk individuals with mentors who have successfully navigated similar challenges. Learn more.
Wraparound Support
Credible Messenger Mentorship
Credible Messenger Mentorship
Providing access to housing, employment, and mental health services to address the root causes of community instability. Learn more.
Live In Peace: Securing Northeast Detroit
At Live In Peace, we occupy the frontlines of the Northeast Detroit CVI Zone. Our work is focused specifically on the corridor bounded by 8 Mile Road and McNichols Road, stretching from John R to Mound.
In this specific "backyard," we bridge the gap between Michigan’s new safety legislation and the actual streets we serve. We believe that by investing in our neighbors rather than just surveillance, we can build a Detroit where everyone has the right to live in peace.
Our Impact: Lived Experience at Work
At Live In Peace, our authority comes from the pavement. We aren't just observers; we are residents and leaders with the lived experience necessary to navigate the complexities of the Northeast Detroit CVI Zone. Our impact is measured in the lives redirected and the peace maintained between 8 Mile Road and McNichols Road.
- Conflict De-escalation: Our teams have successfully mediated high-tension disputes in the Pershing and Nolan neighborhoods, preventing retaliatory violence before it reaches the streets.
- Credible Messenger Outreach: By employing mentors who have walked these same Detroit blocks, we bridge the trust gap that traditional Wayne County services often face.
- Resource Connection: We have successfully transitioned at-risk individuals into stable employment and housing, addressing the root causes of instability in Northeast Detroit.
- Community Presence: From John R to Ryan Rd, our "boots on the ground" approach ensures that safety is a constant conversation, not just a response to a crisis.
Research & Evidence-Based Resources
National CVI Standards
State Legislation & Funding
State Legislation & Funding
We align our local efforts with the federal CVI Ecosystem and the Department of Justice’s evidence-based implementation checklists to ensure every intervention follows proven safety protocols.
State Legislation & Funding
State Legislation & Funding
State Legislation & Funding
Our work is supported by Michigan Public Act 269, which recognizes violence intervention as a critical public health service, and the MDHHS Injury Prevention initiatives.
The Detroit CVI Model
State Legislation & Funding
The Detroit CVI Model
Learn how the City of Detroit structures its CVI Programs & Zones to empower organizations like Live In Peace to secure the Northeast corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at connect@lipmovement.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We focus our resources on the Northeast Detroit CVI Zone, specifically the corridor bounded by 8 Mile Road and McNichols Road, stretching from John R to Mound. By staying hyper-local in neighborhoods like Conant Gardens, Nolan, and Pershing, we can build deeper relationships and provide faster response times to community needs.
Our Credible Messengers are staff members with "lived experience" who have successfully navigated the same challenges our at-risk youth face today. Because they have walked these same streets, they possess the trust and authority needed to mediate conflicts, mentor individuals, and offer a path away from violence that traditional institutions might not reach.
No. While we often coordinate with safety stakeholders, CVI is a public health-based approach. We treat violence like a contagious disease. We identifying the source, interrupting the "spread" (retaliation), and treating the underlying causes through mentorship, employment, and mental health support rather than through enforcement. While some CVI organizations do work more with the police, Live In Peace priorities building relationships with potential at-risk/high risk personals, rather than just throwing them in a cell.
Residents can support the Live In Peace mission by volunteering for community events, referring at-risk youth to our mentorship programs (see our Programs section), or attending our local "No Beef" workshops. If you live in the Northeast zone, simply reaching out through our contact page is the first step toward reclaiming our blocks together. See more on our Get Involved page.
Through our Hospital-Based Intervention (HVIP) and wraparound services, we provide victims with immediate crisis support, trauma-informed counseling, and help navigating legal or housing hurdles. Our goal is to ensure that a moment of tragedy doesn't lead to a cycle of retaliation or further instability for Wayne County families.
Yes. Data from across the country and right here in Michigan, shows that when community-led programs are properly funded, they significantly reduce non-fatal shootings and homicides. By focusing on the small percentage of people driving the violence, we create a "peace dividend" that makes the entire neighborhood safer for everyone.
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Support Community Violence Intervention in Detroit
Federal funding for peace is shifting, but our work in Detroit never stops. Join the Live In Peace Movement to help us replace 'R.I.P.' shirts with real opportunity. Your donation directly funds credible messengers on the front lines.