04 November, 2016

Science AMA Series: I'm Charlie Ransford, director of science and policy for Cure Violence, a program that treats violence like a disease and uses ex-gang members to help mediate disputes and prevent violence. Our program has cut violence in half in most neighborhoods we work in. AMA!


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I'm Charlie Ransford, director of science and policy for Cure Violence, a violence-interruption program that treats violence like a disease and uses ex-gang members to help mediate disputes and prevent violence.

Ranked among the top 20 NGO's by Global Journal, Cure Violence stops the spread of violence in communities by using the methods and strategies associated with disease control – detecting and interrupting conflicts, identifying and treating the highest risk individuals, and changing social norms – resulting reductions in violence in neighborhoods of 40 to 70 percent. Evaluations have shown that the program reduces violence at the community and individual level, as well as helping participants to get assistance in education, employment, parenting, and other issues, helping them to get themselves on a better path. The Cure Violence model is being used in more than 20 U.S. cities including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Orleans, and in 9 countries with a focus on the United States, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.

You may be familiar with the critically acclaimed 2011 documentary The Interrupters, which follows Cure Violence workers into Chicago neighborhoods to mediate gang-related conflict.

In Chicago, where Cure Violence is headquartered at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, neighborhoods with Cure Violence workers where violence had been on a downward trend, immediately saw a surge in killings when violence interrupters were laid off due to lack of program funding. Cure Violence argues that the lack of funding over the past two years, more so than the splintering of gangs and their use of social media, or housing disruptions caused by the destruction public housing apartments, is a major factor contributing to some of the deadliest months Chicago has seen in more than 20 years. AMA!

I’ll be back at 2 pm EST (11 am PST, 7 pm UTC) to answer your questions, ask me anything!

">Science AMA Series: I'm Charlie Ransford, director of science and policy for Cure Violence, a program that treats violence like a disease and uses ex-gang members to help mediate disputes and prevent violence. Our program has cut violence in half in most neighborhoods we work in. AMA!

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