PenFed Credit Union’s Post

A SPECIAL ONLINE PROGRAM..... Please join us Wednesday, September 27th at 3:30pm ET as we welcome Lexi Higgins, Director, Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) . Fighting Human Trafficking: What role can the bus industry play? Human trafficking is the exploitation of human beings through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of commercial sex or forced labor. There are an estimated 50 million victims of human trafficking globally, including thousands of children and adults in the United States and Canada. According to a 2018 survey by Polaris, who runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 42% of survivors reported using local and/or long distance buses during their exploitation. And, over 1 in 4 shared that mass transportation had played a role in at least one exit attempt. Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) is a nonprofit program that works alongside the bus industry — motorcoach, transit and school — to combat human trafficking across North America. Join Lexi Higgins, BOTL Director, to learn more about the role the industry is playing in combating this heinous crime, best practices for implementing anti-trafficking initiatives, and about the free, industry-specific materials and resources available through BOTL. This is a uniquely timed program to allow for associations in other time zones to join us. This month, we open this session to all at no charge. Members of VMA who have signed up for monthly programs will be sent a calendar invite. All others, we invite you to register to join us. To register for this important event, go to: https://lnkd.in/gjqwvdhY #busesonthelookout #TruckersAgainstTrafficking #wecanmakeadifference

Community leaders from across Illinois convened in the state capital today to call on the State of Illinois to permanently fund a 2021 law that has provided much-needed dollars to community violence intervention (CVI) organizations combatting gun violence. At a rally in front of the Lincoln Statue in Springfield, elected officials and community leaders gathered in support of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA). State Representative Justin Slaughter, a sponsor of the law, told the crowd that permanent funding for RPSA will make our communities safer and establish Illinois as a leader in the field of gun violence reduction. “RPSA is the foundation for a public health approach to addressing gun violence. Our goal is to save lives by preventing shootings from happening instead of simply arresting and incarcerating after the fact,” Slaughter said. Illinois State Senator Robert Peters, who also sponsored RPSA, said, “We have built the infrastructure needed to take violence prevention to scale. It’s time to broaden our investment and commit for the long term.” In Chicago, the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, an alliance of more than 50 foundations and other funders, the business community through the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and local governments are collaborating to support and expand a network of CVI organizations serving communities with the highest levels of gun violence. The goal, announced in February at an event with the Governor, the Mayor and legislative leaders, is to reduce gun violence by 50 percent in the next five years and 75 percent over the next decade, in part, through a dramatic increase in the number of highest risk individuals served by CVI and allied organizations. Since 2016, the private sector has contributed more than $300 million in support of CVI. More recently, local and state governments have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support CVI. A growing body of research from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago affirms the positive impact of CVI. Advocates for permanent funding for RPSA are seeking more than $140 million in state funds in the proposed 2025 budget. Chicago pastor and anti-violence activist Michael Pfleger told the gathering that gun violence must be fought in the same way that we responded to the COVID pandemic. “You can’t just treat people who are infected by the epidemic of gun violence. We need a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of the disease: guns, fear, and a sense of hopelessness among individuals caught up in lives of violence.” https://lnkd.in/g7M6du-s  

Retail security is a community affair; when we shield our stores from crime, we're nurturing the neighborhood's heartbeat. #KeckPrivateInvestigations #organizedretailcrime #RetailSecurity #StoreClosures #PrivateInvestigation #CommunitySafety #LocalSolutions

Hats off to Chicago CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny) for making such a huge difference in a relatively short period…and establishing a powerful model for other major urban areas to replicate. Not only has their intervention work helped reduce gun violence and recidivism rates, the organization's research validates the immense value of community-based programs and resources — especially for at-risk youth and young adults — toward more productive life paths and economically lifted neighborhoods. I have been fortunate to know, support, advise and/or work directly with many such organizations over the past several years. Among them are Skills for Chicagoland's Future, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago, SVP Chicago, University of Chicago Crime Lab, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Hope Chicago, Ladies of Virtue (LOVChicago), True Star Media & Foundation, Chicago Eco House, HFSChicagoScholars.com, John Bartlett at tenants-rights.org, Marvin Richardson at DrivingForward.org, and Andre Rodriguez at LuvCity.org. If you want to help support a brighter future for Chicago and beyond, any of these organizations would be a great place to start. I think it’s our responsibility. https://lnkd.in/dMX63RtS

#newyorkcity press release focus on #safety #investment #gunviolence #earlyintervention "The recommendations advanced in the report represent a holistic approach to community safety, focusing on prevention and intervention strategies that use a public health and community development model to address the root causes of gun violence. To that end, the task force identified seven strategies in the report based on months of community engagement. These strategies encompass new and existing investments, totaling over $485 million, to offer early interventions for young people, increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, improve housing security, provide easier access to public benefits, bolster community institutions, foster connections to mental health services, and strengthen police-community relations. Early Intervention: $118.3 million to increase early supports, including mentorship opportunities, for young people to prevent them from becoming involved in gun violence. #Housing: $57.5 million to improve existing housing conditions, especially for public housing residents, and increase access to transitional, supportive, and permanent housing units. #navigation & #Benefits: $67.8 million to help New Yorkers access public benefits they deserve and provide better assistance to justice-involved individuals and families navigating benefits programs. #Community #Vitality: $8.64 million to invest in public spaces, including parks, playgrounds, and community centers to make neighborhoods safer and more vibrant. #Employment and #Entrepreneurship: $118.5 million to target opportunity and skills training for young New Yorkers and justice-involved individuals to give them pathways to sustainable, well-paying jobs. #traumainformed Care: $106.66 million to bolster mental health resources for young people and others with a diagnosed mental illness, and ensure appropriate crisis response to those suffering from mental health episodes. Community & #Police Relations: $2.6 million to strengthen bonds of trust between police and communities by allowing greater collaboration on neighborhood safety initiatives, ensuring more effective policing that balances the twin imperatives of safety and justice. An additional $1.5 million will go towards #engagement and evaluation to build an #infrastructure to measure progress on the previous strategies. Finally, the state contributed $6 million for the overall #blueprint. https://lnkd.in/gR8sWx-c

🔪Curious as to what people think on this topic. I don’t believe it is the solution the residents think it to be. It seems one person says, “Let’s ban knives!” Next, “Yea, let’s ban all knives!” We are spinning people into a frenzy. A knife isn’t a weapon, it’s a tool used for a specific purpose. Also, as any inanimate object it can be weaponized; same as a kitchen knife🍴, machete, hatchet 🪓, bat, or motor vehicle 🚗. They aren’t “designed” to kill. Using inflammatory language and repurposing terms, this sounds similar to the argument against firearms. 🤔 People are the problem 🧑🧑🧒. Teach people to be better parents. More money in health 🏥 . Have more community engagement and events to keep everyone busy ⚽️ 🏀 . Communities should help those struggling in their area more. Then on the legal side hold people accountable, enforce laws, give appropriate sentences 👨⚖️. People, people, people. I thought this following part was really telling, because it shows how little thought goes into these matters and the rebuttal would be, “Look how much good that has done us.” “They already prohibit all sorts of other things in retail stores — you can’t sell firearms, for example, or you can’t sell alcohol in retail stores and a number of other things — and so they just need to add one more to the list.” Food for thought. Ashley Salvador Tim Cartmell, P.Eng., M.Eng., PMP Andrew Knack City of Edmonton #knife #tool #weapon #violence #ban #legislation #cornerstore #purpose #intent #action #crime #data #statistics #edmonton #safety #security #publicsafety #education #rhetoric #narrative #clickbait https://lnkd.in/gJfcsVqW

When people think of major cities, concerns about violent crime don't trail far behind. Could community-led interventions be a part of the solution to identify and change behaviors of those at highest risk for violence as well as prompt changes in community norms?   In 2019 and 2020, Charlotte, like many other cities across the United States, saw an increase in firearm violence. Our growth across those two years? Forty-five percent. In 2021, the Alternatives to Violence (ATV) program, a community-based partnership between the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., with a purpose to curb violence in neighborhoods, was piloted in the Beatties Ford Road corridor. The program saw more than 40 violence interruptions in its first year of operation. While it's too early to assess the success of the program, early signs of efficacy are promising. A cumulative report that details longer-term outcomes will follow the program’s third year. For now, the program continues on with expansion to West Boulevard. Will it be a success? Read more about violence interruption programming in Charlotte: https://lnkd.in/eiJ8WzgE Read more about our evaluation of the ATV pilot on Beatties Ford Road: https://lnkd.in/eiqKwN5J #UNCCharlotteUrbanInstitute #UrbanInstituteCLT #UNCCharlotte #violenceinterruption #programevaluation #charlottenc

📢 Safer Business Action Week in Grimsby & Cleethorpes! Last week, we had an outstanding turnout with 32 local town centre businesses and stakeholders uniting for an important business safety event. Grimsby Retailers In Partnership (GRiP CIC) is leading the charge alongside Humberside Police and SPS Security. The initiative, named Operation ShopKind, seeks to confront the escalating issue of violence and abuse against shop workers. Thanks to a successful £30,000 grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund last year, Grimsby retailers now have 2-way radios and the DISC application for effective information sharing. This year, GRiP has secured an additional £26,500 to extend this essential initiative, further safeguarding businesses and their teams. Humberside Police will be enhancing their presence, demonstrating unity with community safety partners. Humberside Police Neighbourhood Inspector for Grimsby East Matt Stringer said: “We have seen a real success with the GRiP partnership in Grimsby Town Centre and Freeman Street, with positive relationships between, businesses, retailers and police being built. “Through these relationships and use of GRiP, we have seen numerous examples where individuals intent on causing harm to our communities through shoplifting, violence or public order offences have been arrested. One of the main messages from our local community is that they don’t feel safe in the town centre and we really want to change this narrative. Step by step we are tackling anti social behaviour, we are determined to make our town centre a safe place to be. #SaferBusiness #GRiPCIC #OperationShopKind #CommunitySafety

👮 - MY LOCAL BOBBY PROLIFIC CRIMES TEAM PARTNERSHIP DAY OF ACTION WITH EALING SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM - 👮 On a joint day of action today with the Metropolitan Police Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Team, six individuals were detained for various shoplifting offences within the ‘Make it Ealing’ Business Improvement District (BID) area. Among these individuals were three prolific offenders specifically targeting alcohol from stores. The collaborative efforts resulted in the following actions: - Six Community Protection Warnings were issued. - Two Community Resolution Orders were issued. - One Penalty Notice for Disorder was issued, valued at £90. All related images have been uploaded to ShopSafe for reference and further action. This successful operation highlights the effectiveness of coordinated community safety initiatives in reducing crime and enhancing the security of our local businesses. #creatingsafercommunities #eliminatingthefearofcrime #brokenwindows