MPHI’s Advance Peace Initiative recently announced their expansion into East Lansing. Previously, the Initiative has focused on the city of Lansing, however their efforts revealed that there were individuals located in East Lansing that may be at risk of gun violence involvement.
Advance Peace was granted funding to expand into East Lansing during a city council meeting last month. The city entered a $175,000 contract with Advance Peace, funding which will allow Advance Peace to operate their Peacemaker Fellowship® program. The Advance Peace model works to prevent gun violence by utilizing mentorship of those most likely to engage in gun violence.
“We can’t justify their actions; we just have to get them to a space where we can understand why they did what they did,” said Charles Richardson, Strategy Manager for Advance Peace. “It doesn’t excuse it, but we have to acknowledge in some way we all contribute to the problem if we don’t find ways to help.”
This expansion comes at a time when calls for gun violence prevention in East Lansing have seen an increase. Following multiple incidents in the East Lansing community over the past few years, community members recognize that long-term preventative efforts against gun violence are needed. Advance Peace approaches gun violence as a public health crisis that requires proactive solutions.
“Gun violence is a public health issue in the same way Covid-19 is,” said Dr. Paul Elam, Chief Strategy Officer.
While Advance Peace’s priority is getting the program up and running in East Lansing, Richardson said that he expects Advance Peace will collaborate with the East Lansing School District in the future. The program has previously begun collaborating with the Lansing School District, helping students who may be involved with gun violence develop interpersonal skills and self-confidence to help them remain in school.
“Advance Peace is doing a phenomenal job working with our community partners. Paul [Elam] and Charles [Richardson] are great guys who really care,” said Cordelia Black, Executive Director of Culture and Climate for the Lansing School District.
For the last 18 months, the Advance Peace model has operated in multiple sections of Lansing. The program has seen success with its prior efforts and is optimistic about continuing these efforts in more areas, such as East Lansing.
For more information on Advance Peace and East Lansing, visit:
Advance Peace Lansing/Ingham – Working to end Gun Violence and Heal Communities (advancepeacelansingingham.org)
Advance Peace Will Work to Reduce Gun Violence in East Lansing – East Lansing Info
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