Dayton, Ohio – At the September 24 meeting, the Dayton City Commission approved a new contract to support the next stage of the city’s violence interruption program. With this move, Dayton is opening the door to community-based nonprofits to join the effort, partnering with the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA) to reduce violence in local neighborhoods.
“We have reached an important milestone in our campaign,” said Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr. “Selecting the right community partner will be critical to the success of neighborhood violence interruption work.”
The nonprofit partner will be tasked with identifying and training local “violence interrupters” — individuals who will work directly in targeted areas to defuse tensions, prevent retaliation, and build trust within high-risk groups. These teams will act quickly to intervene in conflicts, offering guidance and peaceful alternatives to violence. Interested organizations can find the full application and submission instructions at DaytonPeace.org. “Applications are due Oct. 30.”
As part of a broader public health approach, GDAHA will manage the nonprofit partner and coordinate efforts with Cure Violence Global, a nationally recognized organization known for its evidence-based violence reduction model. Cure Violence treats violence similarly to a contagious disease — stopping the spread before it escalates.
“By tackling violence head-on, we are directly addressing a critical barrier to better health for all our residents,” said Sarah Hackenbracht, GDAHA president and CEO. “Our ideal nonprofit partner will share our approach to violence as a public health issue, have the ability to organize and manage our active teams of violence interrupters and help us reach our goals and measure our success.”
An informational webinar for interested nonprofits will be held on Thursday, October 2, at 11 a.m. Additional details are available on the DaytonPeace.org website.
The City’s move marks a significant step in its ongoing commitment to addressing violence with community-based solutions rooted in trust, prevention, and healing.
