A Letter from Peacemaker Ben "Taco" Owens
Dear Friends & Partners,
Community violence intervention has come a long way since the days when I began. It is encouraging to witness increased recognition of and investment in the field, as has happened over the last year. I have been engaged in peace work since 1992 and have witnessed its proven impact; it’s far past time to value this life saving work.
I have seen firsthand the effectiveness of safe passages, rumor control, and conflict mediation to ensure safety—the type of safety law enforcement cannot create. These successes happen daily for community intervention workers and motivate us to continue. Ongoing peace maintenance is essential to saving lives.
I’ve also seen the tremendous mental and physical toll this work takes on those on the frontlines. We absorb the community's concerns and pains when tragedies occur. May we continue to honor the men and women who have lost their lives at the forefront of reducing violence.
At the start of 2023, we were hopeful as gun violence and homicides were reportedly down. In May, the Los Angeles Violence Intervention Coalition fiercely advocated to the City for a long overdue wage increase of a $60,000 minimum starting salary. The effort was successful and in July, peacemakers finally began receiving living wages closer to what they deserve.
With new support for peacemakers, communities of color historically most impacted by violence began to see glimmers of hope. Violent crime was down by 3%, homicides by nearly 16% and victims shot by 8% citywide. This is hopeful, but a robust investment in community-based data collection and research is necessary to identify the root causes of violence and engage those closest to it. Leaders in community safety must seek to understand the various forms of community violence and promote accuracy in reporting it. I remain optimistic that community violence and homicides will decrease drastically with more peacemakers on the streets and in communities.
Recent investments from the California Violence Intervention & Prevention (CalVIP) and Department of Justice grants have put the work of community violence intervention on the map. But those of us in the field have long known that intervention works to reduce violence. With an influx of funding, we need ongoing training and professional development for peacemakers to maintain the integrity of community violence intervention.
The Urban Peace Academy serves as a launchpad for the professionalization and development of our future intervention leaders. The Academy is a distinctive practitioner-led training that professionally certifies community intervention workers to address violence on the frontlines. Instructors are held and committed to high accountability standards to ensure integrity for those who are trained. Sustainable investment in continued learning opportunities is vital to the health and well-being of peacemakers.
As we celebrate a downward trend in violence in 2023, we must remember that any life lost by gun violence is one too many. So far, we’ve had the misfortune of starting the year with violence rearing its ugly head by way of a mass shooting on New Year’s Day. Ten people were shot, and two lost their lives within the first hour of 2024. With the hope that this will not become a theme for the year, we are motivated to curb this unprecedented start.
Looking forward, we must collectively continue advocating for more investment in community violence intervention. Private philanthropy and government funding are both essential to the longevity and effectiveness of this work. Our allies and supporters are crucial to upholding the recognition and prosperity that the field deserves. I look forward to further expanding and strengthening partnerships across the country to develop universal best practices rooted in the professional standards of intervention.
In 2024, let’s continue celebrating the victories of peacemakers as we honor the legacy of those who have passed.
In peace,
Ben “Taco” Owens
Community Violence Intervention Specialist
Urban Peace Institute