12/17/2025
Project SAF (Safe, Alive, and Free) staff recently attended the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Statewide Community of Practice Conference, which brought together law enforcement, local government, and nonprofit organizations from across Virginia focused on reducing violent crime.
Mike, REAL LIFE’s Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) Program Coordinator, was especially impacted by the Keynote speaker Jens Ludwig, Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago. Mike shared, “He had a really insightful presentation about the research he conducted for two decades surrounding gun violence in the city of Chicago. His findings were that most shootings could be accredited to interpersonal conflict, especially arguments that frequently occurred on one particular block in the city.”
This insight mirrors what REAL LIFE sees every day through Project SAF. When conflict is addressed early and people are met with compassion, accountability, and support, violence can be prevented before it escalates. We are deeply grateful to DCJS for convening this conference and for their continued support, which makes this important collaboration possible. We also appreciate the opportunity to strengthen our approach alongside partners across the Commonwealth, and we extend our sincere thanks to the Project SAF team for the meaningful, on-the-ground work you do each day to promote safety, healing, and peace across the Tri-Cities.
