Kalamazoo youth “on the front lines” in the fight against gun violence and its impact

KALAMAZOO, MI – According to recent data from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, there were 66 shooting incidents in 2024, a 55% decrease from the 147 incidents in 2023. Although gun violence has declined, concerns remain about the impact gun violence has on youth.

Abra Smith, co-executive director of the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network“The mental and emotional effects of communal gun violence can also lead to nihilism or hopelessness, prolonged grief and substance abuse as unhealthy coping mechanisms,” said Abra Smith, co-executive director of the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network.

The Community Peace Project (formerly Blueprint for peace) is a youth-led initiative focused on teaching youth and adults to Community Reliance Model (CRM) and Stress management during critical incidents (CISM). According to the CRM website, CRM is a model that teaches skills to “restore the natural balance of the nervous system.” The core elements of CRM include skills that teach mindfulness, tracking and presence to “restore the body, mind and spirit to a state of balance,” the website says.

CISM teaches crisis intervention tactics that can be used immediately after a traumatic event. These skills are widely used by first responders, firefighters, and public safety organizations throughout the United States.

The Community Peace Project equips youth and adults with tools to cope with stress and trauma while fostering a sense of identity, agency and belonging.

Rubontay “Rue” Buckner, executive director of Urban Zone“We work hard to build authentic connections and engagement from the start and use intentional practices to create an atmosphere of physical and emotional safety, inclusion, community building and trust,” says Smith.

Rubontay “Rue” Buckner, executive director of the Urban Zone, emphasized that youth are on the front lines in the fight against gun violence in Kalamazoo. “The universe will never give them peace in something they were never meant to settle in. They are tired of being hurt by gun violence (whether directly or indirectly), which is why our youth leaders are stepping up and making sure we fight the same pain together.”

Ripple Effects of the Community Resilience Model

Jacquis Robertson, community engagement coordinator for the Kalamazoo Youth Development NetworkThe Community Peace Project promises to have a big impact on Kalamazoo, especially when traumatic incidents occur. “If a person is able to take those skills and use them in their everyday life or use them during a traumatic event, then that's a win,” says Jacquis Robertson, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network. “If participants take what they have learned and pass it on to other young people, their parents and other people, it will have an impact and be a step in the right direction.”

Rubontay added: “This initiative is not just about one person. It's about the community. The actions of one person can have profound effects on many. The blueprint for peace IS this person.”

Genesis Griffin, KYDNet’s Youth Leadership Coordinator and Youth Mobility Mentor“There were not many unique challenges in implementing this program, including typical nonprofit challenges such as funding, finding a place to meet, and finding committed people to participate in the community to find committed participants,” says Genesis Griffin , Youth Leadership Coordinator and Youth Mobility Mentor of KYDNet.

The effects have already been positive.

The Community Peace Project has received a lot of positive feedback from youth and the community. The participants have already applied the techniques they learned in their lives. Amya Jackson, vice president of Synergy's Urban Zone Youth Advisory Council (UYAC), highlights how she was able to use what she learned to help her teen campers after an incident: “CISM and CRM have made me more aware of how I can help others “They may be in need or going through a tough time and just want to know they have someone on their side to turn to if they need it.”

Yvlie Jn Baptiste, President of Synergy's Urban Zone Youth Advisory Council
Yvlie Jn Baptiste, President of Synergy Urban zone The Youth Advisory Council (UYAC) also participated because they wanted to help improve their community. She emphasized that the training had affected her personally: “It taught me to control my emotions on a deeper level. Griffin explains that the impact of this initiative extends beyond the participants.

“The community will feel it too,” Griffin said. “We have put together a cohort that meets when traumatic events occur in Kalamazoo County.”

The vision for Kalamazoo following the success of the program is a community that knows how to self-regulate, not only during traumatic experiences, but also in their daily lives. Although this program has already had an impact, it does not end there. Young people who have participated so far expressed that they believe this should be just the beginning of youth-oriented initiatives and programs.

Amya Jackson, vice president of Synergy's Urban Zone Youth Advisory Council“I hope that the youth participants of the CRM and CISM training will take on further leadership roles in the community. “I also hope that I can help temporarily calm those who need a good distraction from the struggles of the real world,” says Jackson. “Community leaders have also agreed to call on the community to take immediate action.”

Griffin adds, “We need ongoing support from our community members and a willingness to engage in trauma-informed practices so that we can give each other the support we need during difficult times.”

Regina Kibezi is a senior at Loy Norrix High School. She is also a member of the Youth Advisory Board of the Community Peace Project.