Maybe it\u2019s not fair to reduce to a few points an hour of conversation with Reggie Moore, director of the City of Milwaukee\u2019s Office of Violence Prevention, at an \u201cOn the Issues with Mike Gousha\u201d program at Marquette Law School on Feb. 6. But let\u2019s hope it\u2019s a way to drive home a few of his major points and perhaps to encourage you to watch the video of the program.<\/p>\n
Moore\u2019s effort is best known for the document it produced, \u201cThe Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace.\u201d It offers goals and strategies aimed at reducing violence in the city, many of them dealing with community development and investment. \u201cEvery strategy in the blueprint is evidence based,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n
Here are eight short take-aways\u00a0 from \u00a0Moore, a Milwaukee native with a long history of working with young people in the community:<\/p>\n
His office is in the City Health Department<\/strong>, not in a law enforcement setting. Why? Because violence is a community health issue and many of the ways to abate it involve community health, in the broad sense of the term.<\/p>\n One of the hardest challenges<\/strong> he faces is getting people to believe that violence is preventable. But, he is convinced, it is.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t have an officer on every street corner<\/strong>. Moore spoke positively of the work of the Milwaukee Police Department. But there is much more to fighting crime and violence. The broad solutions \u00a0lie in improving relationships and improving the lives of people.<\/p>\n Access to quality schools is a violence prevention strategy.<\/strong> Same with housing, better pay for many jobs, \u00a0and other things that are necessary to a stable life and a promising future.<\/p>\n Reducing violence goes hand in hand with reducing trauma<\/strong> in the lives of children and adults.<\/p>\n But speaking of trauma, there is a lot of talk about \u201cadverse childhood experiences\u201d that shape many young people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s important. But there also are \u201cadverse community experiences.\u201d<\/strong> \u00a0Entire neighborhoods that are shaped by the traumatic things going on in their midst.<\/p>\n Racism and policies shaped by policies are an important part of understanding the realities of life in Milwaukee now. \u201cWe need to have an honest conversation<\/strong> about the history of Milwaukee,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n When people ask him how much the plan will cost, his answer is, how much are you willing to invest?<\/strong><\/p>\n To read more about the Office of Violence Prevention and the blueprint, click here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n