Group Violence Intervention

Building Relationships to Reduce Violence

In June 2025, the Cedar Rapids Police Department recorded only one shots fired incident. This was the lowest in any month since 2015 and a 67% decrease from June 2024. The CRPD partially credits the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategies for this good news, but also suggests other ways of measuring success.  

GVI is an evidence-based approach that creates a network of care for those most impacted by violence. The strategy brings community members together with law enforcement and social service providers to focus an antiviolence message on highly active street groups. Initial implementation was funded by an anonymous gift to the Safe, Equitable, and Thriving (SET) Fund at the Community Foundation.  

After leading the project for several years, the Community Foundation passed leadership of GVI to Foundation 2 in 2023. Foundation 2 now leads Stand Up for Peace, a collaboration that works with families and individuals to provide a path away from risky behaviors.  

“The GVI Strategy is about building trust, opening lines of communication, and offering real opportunities for change,” said Lisa Jordan, Group Violence Intervention Program Coordinator at Foundation 2. “We work directly with those most affected by gun violence, showing them that the community cares and support is available. We’ve already seen the impact—people are engaging, taking steps forward, and realizing they’re not alone.” 

By starting conversations and prioritizing the shared goal of community safety, the collaborative has helped some community members see law enforcement agencies as allies. That relationship is the real marker of success, says the CRPD. 

“I do not like to hang the success of anything on statistics,” said Captain Charlie Fields, Community Services Division Commander. “The benchmark to measure any of this by is how the community feels. Do they feel safer? Personally, I think the answer to that is yes. Seeing the way officers talk with community members says a lot about the trust that’s been built over the years.” 

Of course, violence prevention requires ongoing work. The network has continued to grow, connecting youth to a wide range of programs and services. The collaborative is confident they will continue to see success as long as the community supports the work. 

“GVI is a three-legged approach,” said Captain Fields. “Besides law enforcement and Foundation 2’s outreach, we also need strong community voices and role models to be a part of the program. It takes a village to raise a child, and we need more villagers.” 

For more information on the GVI collaborative and how you can get involved, visit Foundation2.org/gvi.