On April 30, Philadelphia Foundation joined civic, business, government, and community leaders for the second annual convening of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives, a collaborative initiative co-founded by Philadelphia Foundation and the William Penn Foundation in 2021 to reduce gun violence across Philadelphia and save lives.

Origins and Learning Journey

The Coalition’s story demonstrates how sustained, coordinated action can transform crisis into opportunity. As Philadelphia Foundation President and CEO Pedro A. Ramos reflected in his remarks, “The old saying goes that every crisis presents an opportunity. But it’s equally the case that serious, complex issues – like community violence – require our attention, commitment, and coordinated efforts when the crisis spotlight is turned elsewhere.”

This Coalition’s journey began several years ago when Philadelphia was already experiencing rising homicide rates. While this was a crisis in Philadelphia neighborhoods, it wasn’t yet front-page news or meaningfully on civic leaders’ radar. In response, Philadelphia Foundation convened local leaders to hear from Thomas Abt, a nationally known researcher and practitioner whose book “Bleeding Out” made a data-based case for community violence intervention.

What he shared was promising: there are proven approaches that reduce community violence and save lives in a relatively short period of time. However, at that time, the civic infrastructure wasn’t in place locally to translate these insights into action.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. In its aftermath, gun violence reached historic highs, with Philadelphia’s homicide rate increasing more than 64% from the 2010s to the 2020s. What had been a simmering crisis became front-page news, and the imperative to act grew stronger.

In the summer of 2021, Philadelphia Foundation and William Penn Foundation brought together a core group of local civic, business, and nonprofit leaders to embark on a learning journey. This group consulted with experts across the country about what the group, as non-experts, could do to help reduce community violence. 

Evidence-Based Strategies for Impact

From consultations with experts including David Muhammad at the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, Thomas Abt and his colleagues, the Wellness Foundation, and the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Coalition learned about effective strategies including:

• Using data to identify the discrete group of individuals most at risk of gun violence (about 1,200 people in Philadelphia)
• The power of direct communication with at-risk individuals
• Providing meaningful and tailored services, supports, and opportunities
• Focusing enforcement activity on the people, places, and behaviors most tied to gun violence

In the years since, the Coalition has made important progress by uniting government, philanthropic, business, and community partners around data-driven strategies and coordinated action. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration has prioritized these interventions, with real results: homicides dropped over 35% in 2024, representing more than 140 lives saved, and are down 52% since 2021. So far this year, there’s been a further 23% drop in homicides and 20% drop in shootings.

The Coalition was honored to have two of its key Parker Administration partners – Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer – attend and offer remarks at the convening. Their participation underscores the essential partnerships with City agencies that have been fundamental to advancing intervention-focused public safety efforts.

Commissioner Bethel expressed his gratitude for the Coalition’s support and guidance. He highlighted several key initiatives, and shared that the department is “working on a 5-year strategic plan with [Coalition’s] support to create a bottom-up strategy of community policing.” He emphasized that this represents the “first time in history developing a plan by sitting down with community partners,” underscoring his goal for Philadelphia to “become the finest police department in America.”

While acknowledging that statistics show improving safety, Director Geer recognized that “people still feel unsafe,” and called on all participants to “continue this conversation and double down on the mission of [the Coalition].” Echoing a theme of the convening, he emphasized the need for persistent effort: “We must continue ten toes down every single day to push forward.” 

Supporting Frontline Efforts and Community Healing

The convening highlighted the critical role of frontline organizations in violence reduction work. These community-based groups provide the direct services and support that help individuals at highest risk change their life trajectories. The convening lifted up three direct service areas the Coalition has supported through grantmaking – workforce development and career opportunities; healing; and behavioral health.

In the workforce conversation, Pastor Carl Day, Executive Director of Beat the Block, spoke passionately about the barriers facing Black and brown young men in Philadelphia. “Many young men don’t attend things like job fairs because they’re feeling disqualified already due to issues like not having an ID or SSN,” he explained. Pastor Day emphasized the need to create legitimate income opportunities for those facing systemic barriers, “giving a hand back to those who helped build this city in the first place.” Through recent private investment, Beat the Block has been able to reach some of the most at-risk men in our communities, but a greater level of investment is needed to level the playing field. Pastor Day called on companies participating in the Civic Coalition to Save Lives to hire individuals working with Beat the Block.

His co-panelist Patrick Clancy, CEO of Philadelphia Works, described his organization’s role as the workforce development board connecting individuals to employment. He highlighted that while people need additional skills, many don’t have the financial wherewithal to take time off for training programs. Clancy identified workforce issues both as “one of the most daunting issues in Philadelphia,” and also an area of opportunity, with extensive talent pools available to employers who make the needed adaptations to access it. 

Clancy pointed out additional challenges, including potential SEPTA service issues that could significantly impact people trying to get to school and work. He emphasized the need for advocacy at the state level to address these transportation barriers.

The session underscored that violence prevention requires comprehensive approaches that address economic opportunity, mobility, and systemic barriers. By connecting at-risk individuals with meaningful employment and addressing related challenges like transportation, we can create pathways away from violence and toward stable, productive futures.

A Call for Collective Responsibility and Action

The Coalition’s focus on spreading ownership, accountability, and knowledge is showing results. There hasn’t been a single Chamber of Commerce meeting in the past three years without an update on community violence. Business sector leaders are now as conversant on community violence intervention as any non-practitioner could be, and they’re ensuring they’re not the only ones in their companies who are informed, engaged, and committed.

The event concluded with powerful calls to action from William Penn Foundation’s Executive Director Shawn McCaney and Comcast’s Senior Vice President of External and Government Affairs Bret Perkins. Both called for broad engagement from individuals and organizations across Philadelphia. On-ramps for partnering, which are highlighted on the Coalition’s website, include:

• Providing financial support to frontline organizations doing the direct work of violence intervention
• Developing employment opportunities and reentry programs for at-risk individuals
• Mentoring young people to provide positive adult relationships and social capital
• Partnering with frontline groups to leverage institutional resources and knowledge
• Hosting awareness events within organizations and communities to sustain momentum
• Supporting efforts to institutionalize successful programs within City government

The essence of the Coalition is cross-sector collaboration that maintains consistent focus. As Ramos concluded: “We need to stay coordinated, keep building our Coalition, and continue pushing to institutionalize this work. It saves lives.