The Greensboro City Council met on Tuesday, and one of the main agenda items was the future of its violence reduction program. The city has been grappling with record-breaking numbers of fatal shootings.
Two years ago, Greensboro brought in the Chicago-based Cure Violence initiative to combat the problem. It relies on sending trained mediators to targeted high crime areas to disrupt violence before it occurs.
At a November City Council meeting, Mayor Nancy Vaughan called for a review of the local program — known as Gate City Coalition — to determine if it was achieving those goals. On Tuesday, she called for more time.
"I definitely think that it is worth a third year of investment because we do need to see a change," said Vaughan. "We know that there are hot spots and hot people, and I believe that the interrupters not only look at their area of town, but they go beyond those borders."
The Council voted unanimously to continue funding Cure Violence in the amount of $400,000. The December evaluation by UNC-Greensboro showed more than 450 individuals were helped, most participants found employment, and there were significant drops in aggravated assaults in both of the city's targeted areas.