2024 House Resolution 281

Whereas, Community violence, which includes homicide and non-fatal shootings, causes substantial harm and trauma to communities across Michigan, especially in racially segregated and historically disinvested neighborhoods. Community violence continues to be a significant and growing public health problem; and

Whereas, People who live in communities experiencing violence are at a higher risk for developing chronic diseases and may have limited opportunities to engage in healthy behaviors, such as using recreational spaces and accessing healthy food outlets; and

Whereas, The need for effective violence intervention strategies is evident across various Michigan municipalities, including Muskegon Heights, Detroit, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Harper Woods, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Albion, where crime rates exceed state and national averages, posing significant challenges to public safety and community well-being; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan has made significant investment in Community Violence Intervention programs, including recently announcing a new director of the newly created Office of Community Violence Intervention Services in the Executive Office, to partner with community-based organizations and local communities working to reduce violent incidents by providing grants and other resources to community violence prevention agencies; and

Whereas, As dedicated advocates for community violence intervention programs have shown, we have witnessed significant success in reducing violence within the city of Detroit, achieving a remarkable 72% decrease in the Cody Rouge neighborhood since January 2024 and a 57-year low in homicide city wide; and

Whereas, We firmly believe that extending this recognition statewide will amplify our collective efforts to foster safer communities and combat the root causes of violence; and

Whereas, By declaring June 13th as CVI Day, Michigan has an opportunity to honor the invaluable contributions of organizations and individuals dedicated to community violence intervention and to mobilize support for comprehensive, statewide initiatives focused on violence reduction and community resilience; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare June 13, 2024, as CVI Day in the state of Michigan. We recognize and honor the remarkable people and organizations for their tireless dedication and innovative efforts to raise awareness and promote proactive measures to address community violence, acknowledging the critical importance of community-driven intervention efforts; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage all Michiganders to use this day as an opportunity to support Community Violence Intervention initiatives for its unwavering commitment to providing vital learning opportunities for the youth of Michigan to strengthen their financial literacy.