WESH 2: Orlando votes to expand CVI program that has decreased gunshot wounds and homicides in the city

Michelle Imperato, WESH 2

ORLANDO, Fla. — The City of Orlando has voted to expand the Community Violence Intervention program, which is focused on reducing gun violence.

Officials say it's because it's working.

"We've seen the first year of progress, we saw gunshot wounds were down across the city by 36% and we know homicides were down by 20%. That means 59 people less were shot this year compared to last year and so with the success of the program we're looking to expand it," Abe Morris said.

Morris oversees the CVI program for the city and says since it launched in 2022. It's been focused on Parramore, Carver Shores, Holden Heights, Mercy Drive and Rosemont.

Now, the program will expand to Lake Mann, Richmond Heights and Signal Hill.

CVI is unique because most of the work happens in the streets mentoring those most likely to pick up a gun and shoot or be short.

Mentors call their mentees three times a day for 18 to 24 months building trust and offering support like therapy, job opportunities and training.

Raysean Brown is the program's strategy manager. He says the work is intense and dangerous, but his team is committed to changing lives and saving lives. Brown says the expansion can only help.

"What we realize is that it's not beneficial to do one side of mediations, right? A big part of our work is mediation, finding out what's going to happen before it happens and reaching these young people and saying 'Look, there's a better way to solve this right?'" Brown said. "So the more communities that we are in, then we could do both-side mediation."

Brown added that he's seen great progress in many of the young men they're mentoring.

Orlando is spending $1.5 million per year on the program, a grant from the American Rescue Plan. The expansion is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Justice.

Read the original article here.