MPHI’s Advance Peace Project has been in the news, as Dr. Paul Elam, Chief Strategy Officer, joined a panel discussion of Lansing Leaders at the Alfreda Schmidt Community Center to announce a significant expansion for 2024. Advance Peace Lansing is a partnership led by MPHI that focuses on reducing cyclical and retaliatory gun violence.

The panel discussion included Dr. Nike Shoyinka, Ingham County’s Medical Health Officer, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, and DeLisa Fountain, Director of Lansing’s Department of Neighborhoods, Arts, & Citizen Engagement (DNACE).

Dr. Paul Elam and Mayor Andy Shor shared that in 2023, Lansing’s city-wide gun fatalities dropped by 65%, though shootings continued to rise. In addition, incidents with evidence of shots being fired were down by 3.5% and calls to 911 or police about shots fired were down 4%.

Advance Peace Milestone and 2024 Expansion

Advance Peace Lansing’s Street team spent thousands of hours in Lansing’s neighborhoods. During the first year of operation, the focus has been on southwest Lansing. Advance Peace’s presence from October 2022 to now is significant for those participating in the Peacemaker Fellowship, Advance Peace’s cornerstone community violence intervention strategy.

Currently, there are fifteen active Peacemaker Fellows. The Peacemaker Fellowship breaks the cycle of gun hostilities and alters the trajectory of the lives of young men through in-depth, daily interactions such as providing internship opportunities and helping Fellows navigate social services, including assistance with transportation, housing, legal matters, cash assistance benefits, and more.

  • In the past year, Fellows participated in 113 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sessions, 202 Life Coaching sessions, 88 Job Readiness sessions, 17 Internships, and more.
  • Fellows meet with an elders circle consisting of community members who share life experiences, offering guidance on avoiding gun violence and achieving success in family, business, and other endeavors.

Officials with the program said they’re hiring staff to expand the initiative’s footprint to other Lansing neighborhoods over the next two years.

Outreach will expand to southeast Lansing and to neighboring East Lansing next year. Advance Peace Lansing plans to add northern Lansing neighborhoods through 2025.

You can read media coverage of the One Year Anniversary Advance Peace Lansing Press Event here: