LIVE TO

BE MORE
A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE
REDUCTION STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE
LIVE TO BE MORE: A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE
REDUCTION STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE
662 People were murdered in Baltimore from 2015-2016 and 1304 more were harmed in non-

fatal shootings. This unfortunate reality is a stark turn from the historic years of violent crime

reduction Baltimore had been experiencing during the historic lows of 2011 and 2014. As of

2017, there have been 205 homicides in Baltimore. Over 80% of those homicides were

committed using a hand gun and almost half of the homicide victims had been previously

arrested for a gun crime.

Unfortunately, these unacceptable facts are not surprising to anyone in Baltimore as the disease

of gun violence has been an issue for decades. However, in Baltimore dealing with that gun

violence has only been addressed through the lens of policing with a few exceptions.

The time has come for that to change. The Public Safety Committee of the Baltimore City

Council, under the leadership of Councilman Brandon M. Scott, is calling for Baltimore to adopt

Live To Be More: A Comprehensive Gun Violence Strategy for Baltimore. Live To Be More

attacks gun violence through many avenues. Most importantly, Live To Be More recognizes gun

violence as a disease and treats it through a public health lens. The Public Safety Committee is

seeking to partner with Mayor Pugh and her administration to institute this strategy framework

in partnership putting the lives of Baltimoreans above all.

Although Live To Be More focuses mainly on long term actions, The Public Safety Committee

realizes that amid record levels of violence the city should be operating in a state of emergency

and immediate actions are needed. The following are immediate actions that can be taken to

save lives in Baltimore.

1. Adopt a new Baltimore Police Department patrol shift schedule by negotiating shift

schedule out of union contract immediately.

2. Adopt a recruitment and hiring plan to fill all open positions at BPD.

3. Reinstitute Baltimore Gun Stat.

4. Launch a Youth Safety Network.

5. Expand Safe Streets.

6. Support citizen led crime reduction initiatives.

Baltimore City Council Public Safety Committee

Councilman Brandon M. Scott Chair Councilman Ryan Dorsey Vice Chair

Councilman Kristerfer Burnett Councilwoman Shannon Sneed

Councilman Zeke Cohen Councilman Leon Pinkett Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer

02
0 2
662
People were murdered in Baltimore from
2015-2016 and 1304 more were harmed
in non-fatal shootings.

VISION A thriving Baltimore where all

Baltimoreans have access to quality

educational, economic and other

opportunities that provide them all

with the opportunity to live to be more.

MISSION Work with agencies and organizations

across Baltimore to develop and put in

place a comprehensive strategy that

reduces gun violence in Baltimore.

03
LIVE TO BE MORE PILLARS

1 2
BE MORE PREVENTATIVE STOP SHOOTING & START
LIVING TO BE MORE

201
3 ur 201 partners and
contributors have helped us
make this year imaginable.
BE MORE ABOUT JOBS &
OPPORTUNITY

4
4 5
5
BE MORE ABOUT SUPPORT THE BPD TO
NEIGHBORHOODS BE MORE
04
LIVE TO BE MORE
A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION
STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE

1
BE MORE PREVENTATIVE
201
ur 201 partners and
contributors have helped us
Attend to Be More
make this year imaginable.
Youth Gun Violence Reduction
Responsible Fatherhood
Expanding Bmore Night Hoops
Baltimore Community Schools Expansion
Trauma Informed Approaches In School
Be More Read More
Live to Be More Fund
Be More Be A Mentor
Restorative Discipline in Schools
Lead Abatement
Out of School Time
Youth as Citizens

05
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : ATTEND TO BE MORE

Improving attendance and eliminating chronic absenteeism is essential to improving

outcomes for Baltimore City public-school students. Chronic absenteeismor

missing at least 10 percent of school days in a school year for any reason, excused or

unexcusedis a primary cause of low academic achievement. An estimated 18,000

Baltimore City public school students kindergarten 12th grade are chronically

absent, missing a month or more of school each year. Chronic absence puts them at

significant risk of falling behind academically and failing to graduate from high

school. Students who are chronically absent in the early grades are less likely to read

at grade level and by middle school chronic absence is the strongest predictor of

whether students will graduate. Because Baltimores school students miss so much

school, they miss out on opportunities that put them onto the path to postsecondary

success in college and careers.

We can more effectively improve student achievement and other critical youth

outcomes among Baltimore Citys most vulnerable by tackling the causes of chronic

absenteeism. Utilizing chronic absence data can be used to catalyze action to

implement and strengthen effective cross-sector early warning and tiered response

systems, which are integral to an attendance improvement strategy.

Objective:By 2025, reduce the number of chronically absent students in Baltimore

City by 50%.

Performance Measures:

The rate of chronic absence in Baltimore City

The rate of chronic absence among students in public housing

The rate of chronic absence among students who are juvenile justice involved

The rate of chronic absence among students who are in the foster care system

The rate of chronic absence in the key transition years of kindergarten, 6th and 9th

grade

06
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION

In Baltimore, far too many young people become the victims and perpetrators of the

disease known as gun violence. Year after year, dozens of young people are killed, or

injured by another young person through gun violence. In Baltimore, 94 young people

under the age of 18 were victims of non-fatal shootings between 2015-2016. In

addition, 15 young people are already suspects in Non Fatal shootings thus far in

2017. Gun violence like any catastrophic illness doesnt just impact the person who

contracts it, but also the family and those close to that individual. Gun violence is

destroying the families of our young people and like other diseases, it is being passed

from one generation of Baltimore families to the next. Focusing in from a holistic

approach on these young people, their families and most importantly, their siblings,

would help end the cycle of gun violence. This should be done through the following

types of initiative: A family strengthening programming for families of victims or

perpetrators in the model of the Center For Urban Families Economic Success and

Family Stability programs. In addition, a violence prevention initiative for youth

victims of gun violence and a complete learn to earn focus approach for the siblings

of youth victims or perpetrators of gun violence are drastically needed.

Objective: Reduce the number of Youth Gun Violence victims and suspects in

Baltimore and attack the spread the disease of gun violence through families.

Performance Measures:

Number of 2015-2017 Youth Non Fatal Shooting Victims enrolled in Youth

Violence Prevention Program

Number of Youth Gun Violence impacted families enrolled in Family

Strengthening Course

. Number of 2015-2017 Youth Non Fatal Shooting victims that become Non Fatal

Shooting or Homicide Suspects

Number of siblings of Youth Non Fatal Shooting/Homicide Victim or Suspects

enrolled in quality afterschool programming

. Number of Youth Non Fatal Shooting victims and families relocated

07
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD

In Baltimore, young people who are struggling in school, unfortunately end up

involved with violence or in the criminal justice system. One of the common factors

that is far too often overlooked is the lack of a committed and responsible father in

their lives. Its very simple, children and families do better when a father is involved

in the family structure. In order to close the success gap between children with active

fathers and those without, Baltimore must focus on increasing responsible fatherhood.

Data shows children without active fathers are much more likely to have negative life

outcomes,makingthem moreproneto become victims or perpetrators of violence.

Focusing on connecting or reconnecting fathers with young people and families

within Baltimores neighborhoods with the highest levels of gun violence would

directly support the mission of Live To Be More.

Objective: Increase number of engaged fathers within families in targeted areas of

Baltimore and assist them in maintaining/improving relationships and parental

actions.

Performance Measures:

Number of Fathers in target areas enrolled in Fatherhood Courses

Percentage of Enrolled Fathers in target areas who report an improved relationship

with children

. Number of Mothers in target areas who report fathers has improved relationship

with children

08
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : EXPANDING B-MORE NIGHT HOOPS

Bmore Night Hoops basketball was

started in 2014 to revive the defunct

midnight basketball league

through the Baltimore City

Department of Recreation and

Parks. The targeted ages for

Bmore Night Hoops are of those

most at risk for gun violence in

Baltimore. In its first year, Bmore

Night Hoops operated both a

spring and summer session, but

has only been done in the

summer in recent years. The program's success has grown over the past two years

with 192 participants in 2015 and 300 in 2016. In order to reach the full potential of

this program it operation needs to be expanded beyond the summer and the two

current sites. In addition, the program must also be tied to educational, career and

other opportunity for services for the participants.

Objective: Provide a safe recreational opportunity along with support services for

1,000 young men and women in historically violent neighborhoods during high crime

times.

Performance Measures:

Number of Participants

Number of Female Participants

. Number of teams representing transformation/commander zone areas

Number of participants who sign up for a service or program

09
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : COMMUNITY SCHOOLS EXPANSION

Baltimore has had a high functioning results producing Community Schools plan for

several years. In Baltimore Community Schools, focus on the entire school

community through partnership that provide resources for the entire community. Each

Community School has a Community School Coordinator from a partner organization

who develops a plan tailored to the needs of members of their school community.

Currently, 51 schools in Baltimore are using the Family League of Baltimore

Community Schools Strategy. Data of Baltimores community schools show the

strategy has a deep impact across many spectrums. Students in community schools are

less likely to transfer or be chronically absent. Community School parents are more

likely to believe schools connect them to resources and that teachers truly care about

their children. Every child and parent in Baltimore City Schools should be a part of a

Community School. Expanding Community Schools to all Baltimore City Schools is

the only way to achieve that goal.

Objective: Expand Community Schools Model to all Baltimore City Public Schools

by 2025.

Performance Measures:

Number of Community Schools Funded

Number of Community Partners Identified

. Number of Community Schools Plans Submitted

Number of Community Schools Partners Approved

10
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES

In Baltimore, an unacceptable number of young people are exposed to violence at an

early age. A University of Maryland survey of 209 Baltimore city youth found that

Forty-three percent of the students said they witnessed physical violence at least once a

week, and 39 percent said they knew someone who had been killed before they

reached their 20th birthday. Additionally, too many children experience housing

instability, hunger, the death or arrest of a parent, challenges related to immigration

status, and other issues associated with living in poverty. Many of our children are

living with high levels of trauma, and lack access to robust mental health services.

Exposure to trauma is detrimental to the developmental growth of young people and

increases the chances of them being involved in violence.

Across the country and in Baltimore, schools and health officials have begun to partner

to improve mental health services for vulnerable youth. We should look to the State of

Massachusetts which requires all schools to develop action plans for creating safe and

supportive environments. In Baltimore, the focused expansion of Trauma Informed

Practices should start within our schools. Cultural competence is critically important.

In order to make this approach work, training and resources are needed to insure that

all school-based practitioners can carry out the mission.

Objective: Support the expansion of Trauma Informed Practices in Baltimore Schools.

Performance Measures:

Number of schools using Trauma Informed Practices

Number of school level employees trained in Trauma Informed Practices

. Number of Trauma Informed Practices Trainings given

Exposure to the disease of violence is detrimental to the

developmental growth of young people and increases
chances of them being involved in violence themselves.

11
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : BE MORE READ MORE

One out of six young people who are not reading at grade level by 3rd grade do not

graduate from high school. In Baltimore, a 2015 report by the National Assessment for

Educational progress showed that only 11% of 4th graders and 9% of low income

students in Baltimore City Public Schools were reading at grade level by the time they

began fourth grade. In the past, studies have shown that high school dropouts are 3.5

times more likely to be arrested than those who graduate. For young people, in

Baltimore, this can literally mean the ability to earn a living legally or illegally and

even life or death. Be More Read More has been a campaign to double the amount of

students reading at grade level by 3rd grade for several years. This campaign should be

expanded and fully supported as a part of the comprehensive violence reduction

strategy.

Objective: Double the number of students reading at or above grade level by 3rd

grade by 2022.

Performance Measures:

Number of students receiving quality tutoring

Number of books given to students/families

. Number of students achieving proficient or above on PARCC in grades3 and 4

Number of students scoring as fully ready on kindergarten assessment

1 in 6
Youthwho are not reading
at grade level by 3rd grade
do not graduate from
high school.

12
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : LIVE TO BE MORE FUND

Public,private andcommunity support are the only way Live To Be More can be

successful in reducing gun violence in Baltimore. Financial resources will be critical to

the success of all Live To Be More programs, especially those run by local community

based organizations. The creation of the Live To Be More Fund will drastically impact

outcomes by providing financial support for programs that directly impact the core

mission of Live To Be More through grants. There should be a focus on awarding

grants to programs that provide direct citizen involvement in crime fighting, creating

efficiencies for existing effective programs and programs that directly serve high risk

individuals and their families.

Objective: Create Live to Be More Fund to build capacity for community based

programs that impact gun violence.

Performance Measures:

Number of Direct Services Grants Awarded

Number of Efficiency grants awarded

. Amount Raised

Number of Citizen Involvement Grants Awarded

13
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : BE A MENTOR

Mentoring a young person is proven to have a dramatic positive effect ontheir life.

Data from Big Brothers and Big Sisters shows that young people with mentors are

46% less likely to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking than

their peers. Moreover, data from Mentor shows young people with mentors are 55%

more likely to be enrolled in college, 52% less likely to skip school and 110% more

likely to hold leadership positions. Hundreds of young people throughout Baltimore

are on a list awaiting a mentor. Many of them reside in the same very neighborhoods

plagued with homicides and shootings.

Be More Be A Mentor should focus on providing these young people with quality

mentoring and support for the organizations that provide the mentoring services

Objective: Identify young people in neighborhoods with high levels of gun violence

and provide them with quality mentoring services.

Performance Measures:

Number of waitlisted youth in targeted areas matched with a mentor

Number of mentoring trainings for mentors of targeted youth held

Length of mentor/mentee match

Number of technical assistance trainings held for mentoring organizations

Mentoring a young person is

proven to have a dramatic
positive effect on their life.
3
4
12
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : RESTORATIVE DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOL

In recent years, it has become clear that typical school discipline methods have

produced results that proved to be counter productive to students. This impact is seen

much more in students of color, as they are much more likely to be traditionally

disciplined than their white counterparts. Students who miss significant class time due

to suspension become chronically absent and thus become much more likely to fail

courses or dropout. These very same students often end up being the victims or

perpetrators of gun violence in Baltimore.

Restorative Discipline practices have proven to be a impactul alternative to typical

discipline. Restorative Disciplines focus on a school community, understanding harm

and the use of community organizations allow it to be impactful. Traditional

suspensions have dropped consistently in Baltimore City Schools in recent years and

the use of Restorative Discipline has risen across the system. Expanding the use of

Restorative Discipline across the school system would have positive impact on

schools, students and communities.

Objective: Expand the use of Restorative Discipline in Baltimore City Schools.

Performance Measures:

Percentage of students feeling safe at school in school climate survey

Number of traditional suspensions and expulsions

Number of schools using Restorative Discipline through community organizations

Number of Restorative Discipline actions taken

3
5
12
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : LEAD ABATEMENT

Baltimores struggle to deal with the abundance of lead paint in dwellings throughout

the city but, especially in its poor black neighborhoods, is well documented. In

addition, the impact that lead has on the development of the young people who live in

those environments and the ultimate connection to violence cannot be denied.

Baltimore has made numerous attempts to address this issue over many years.

However, no effort to date has produced satisfactory results. Moreover, Baltimore has

not revisited its lead abatement regulations since 2009 and issues around the number of

inspectors available to the health department are well documented. As a part of Live

To Be More, Baltimore should revisit its abatement regulations and increase its

inspection efforts.

Objective: Increase Baltimores Lead Abatement Efforts by strengthening regulations

and increasing inspection efforts.

Performance Measures:

Number of inspectors hired and trained

Number of inspections completed

Number of regulations enhanced

Number of fines/notices given

3
6
12
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : OUT OF SCHOOL TIME

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preventions statistical research

indicates juvenile violence peaks in the afterschool hours on school days, and in the

evenings on non-school days. With just 15% of Baltimores youth having access to

afterschool learning opportunities, too many school-aged children are left

unsupervised and disengaged. These vulnerable hours can be transformed into hours

of opportunity when young people can discover new talents, build stronger

relationships with peers and adults, have access to healthy snacks and meals, engage in

physical activity and get support for academics. The quality of youth programs is an

important prerequisite for achieving positive youth outcomes. Baltimore City out-of-

school time programs should have access to training and professional development and

participate actively in continuous program quality improvement. Students who

participate in high quality afterschool and summer programs are less likely to be

chronically absent, more likely to be on-track academically, and more likely to

graduate from high school and pursue additional educational opportunities (Durlak &

Weissberg, 2011).

Objective: Increase participation in afterschool and summer youth programs from

15% to 40% by 2025.

Performance Measures:

Number and geographic distribution of afterschool and summer learning

opportunities

Number of students served by programs

Hours of training for youth development professionals

Increased program quality (via research based program observation)

3
7
12
 1 BE MORE PREVENTATIVE : YOUTH AS CITIZENS

Too often, children in Baltimore are viewed as potential criminals instead of citizens

with the capacity to positively impact our communities. This focus on deficits becomes

internalized by young people who feel that Baltimore has given up on them.

Additionally, we have failed to properly teach our children their roles and

responsibilities as citizens in a democracy. The result is that many feel

disenfranchised, disconnected and alienated from society. We must strengthen civic

education with a focus on building the next generation of leaders from within

Baltimore.

According to Altman and Feighery, young people who benefit from civic engagement

activities feel a deeper sense of belonging, have better problem-solving and decision-

making skills, have shown improved academic outcomes and tend to avoid risky or

anti-social activities like drug use or violent crime. In Baltimore, we have several

models in and outside of schools that are demonstrating the transformative impact of

youth civic engagement. We should provide additional resources to these models,

while also strengthening citizenship, civic leadership, organizing and advocacy within

our schools. Young people should be given a real voice in the decision making

processes of city government. Finally, we must highlight the good work that our young

people are already doing through social and local media platforms.

Objective: Give young people a voice in how Baltimore is governed by strengthening

their civic capacity.

Performance Measures:

Number of classes on civic engagement or citizenship within Baltimore City Public

Schools

Number of resources dedicated to organizations focused on civic leadership,

advocacy and organizing through the Youth Fund

Youth Commissioners should be voted in by their peers, and provided tools to

contribute legislation through the Mayor and City Council

Number of positive stories about youth promoted through local and social media

Number of community associations with voting youth board members.

3
8
12
LIVE TO BE MORE
A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION
STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE

2
STOP SHOOTING & START
201
ur 201 partners and
LIVING TO BEcontributors
MORE have helped us
make this year imaginable.
Baltimore Safe Streets (improving and expanding model)
Be More Focused and Committed to Reducing Group Violence
Multi-Agency Gun Unit/Gun Crime Intelligence Center
Support Citizen Crime Reduction Programs

19
 2 STOP SHOOTING. START LIVING : BALTIMORE SAFE STREETS

Safe Streets applies the Cure Violence

model that focuses on outreach to

high-risk youth to build trust and move

them away from violence through

mediation of potential violent conflicts.

Safe Streets workers are credible

messengers, as many of them are former

violent offenders in the areas they now

work to prevent violence in.

It is the only evidence-based program

in Baltimore that addresses conflicts

that lead to many shootings.

Additionally, it has reduced shootings

by 27% in the areas it is in with no

proof of displacement of violence.

Safe Streets outreach staff are valuable

assets in efforts to quell violence. To

produce broader and more consistent reductions in violence, the program needs to be

updated and have improved management. In order to attack violence from an

evidence-based approach citywide, Safe Streets should be expanded to have a sight in

each of Baltimores Police Districts.

Objective: Reduce the number of shootings and killings in the Safe Streets target areas

through street outreach and mediations that interrupt violence.

Performance Measures:

Number of Shootings in Safe Streets Target Areas

Number of Homicides in Safe Streets Target Areas

Number of violent conflicts identified and mediated

Number of community events held

Number of Safe Streets Sites

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1 3
0
 2 STOP SHOOTING. START LIVING : REDUCING GROUP VIOLENCE

Gun violence in Baltimore has historically been committed by small groups of

individuals known as Violent Repeat Offenders within small geographic neighborhood

boundaries. Baltimore had some success in reducing gun violence by focusing

enforcement efforts on these people and geography from 2007-2014. However,

research shows Cities that have put into action a Group Violence Reduction Strategy

have seen the most successful and consistent gun violence reductions. The strategy is

designed to deliver a credible and direct message against violence to violent repeat

offenders in a community. Unfortunately, Baltimore has failed twice at implementing a

Group Violence Reduction Strategy through the Ceasefire Program.

To truly address the issue of VROs and gun violence, Baltimore needs to be focused

and committed on reducing group violence through Ceasefire or a new program. In

order to prevent the failures of the past, this new Group Violence Reduction Strategy

needs to have strong collaborative commitments between law enforcement,

community members, and service providers.

Objective:Develop and fully implement a Group Violence Reduction Strategy

focused onreducing gun violence by delivering a credible unified message Stop

Shooting and Live to Be More to VROs while concurrently offering alternative

services and aggressively targeting those VROs who continue to be violent for

enforcement.

Performance Measures:

Number of Group VROs that are victims of gun violence

Number of Group VROs that are crimes involving gun violence

Number of call in attendees

Number of Homicides and NFS in Group Violence Reduction Strategy focus areas

Number of Group VROs that sign up for case management

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2
 2 STOP SHOOTING. START LIVING : GUN CRIME INTELLIGENCE

Illegal guns in the hands of violent repeat offenders are at the center of most incidents

of violent crime in Baltimore. Baltimore has become one of the most lethal cities in the

United States. In 2015, 1 out of 3 people who were shot died from their injuries.

Moreover, 937 shootings resulted in 300 homicides that same year. Baltimore needs to

be hyper focused on getting these guns and the hands they are in, off the streets

through enforcement and prosecution. This focus however, should go beyond the

typical targeting of bad guys with guns and include tracing violent guns, ammunition

and those dealing them through a Gun Crime Intelligence Center. To make this a

reality a committed partnership between the BPD, ATF, Baltimore City States

Attorney, United States Attorneys Office, Baltimore County Police, Anne Arundel

County Police, FBI, DEA, Maryland State Police, Circuit Court of Baltimore City,

District Court of Baltimore City and Parole and Probation is needed.

Objective: Enforcement and investigations of VROs that lead to state/federal

prosecutions and jail time.

Performance Measures:

Number of Federal Exile Prosecutions

Number of Group Indictments

Number of guns link to multiple violent incidents

Number of Group Convictions

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1 3
 2 STOP SHOOTING. START LIVING : CITIZEN CRIME REDUCTION

Citizen involvement and partnershipareknown to be a crucial component in violence

reduction. In Baltimore, there are numerous organizations who have spent years

combating crime in neighborhoods through citizen involvement. Citizens on Patrol and

other organizations have shown to have an impact on crime in their respective areas of

focus. Unfortunately, these organizations often operate without significant outside

support. Directly supporting these types of organizations would help them to expand

their reach, and should be a focus of Live To Be More. In addition, all citizen crime

reduction groups in Baltimore should have a direct relationship with its police

commander.

Objective: Provide support and assistance to citizen lead crime reduction

organizations.

Performance Measures:

Number of existing organizations awarded funding assistance

Number of new groups awarded funding

Number of existing organizations provided technical assistance or training

Number of new organizations provided technical assistance or training

22
1 3
LIVE TO BE MORE
A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION
STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE

3
BE MORE ABOUT JOBS &
201
ur 201 partners and
OPPORTUNITY
contributors have helped us
make this year imaginable.
Baltimore Youth Works
Expand Baltimore YO! Centers
Returning to Be More(returning citizens)

24
 3 JOBS & OPPORTUNITY : BALTIMORE YOUTH WORKS

Baltimores Youth Work program

has successfully placed young

people in summer jobs for

decades. In recent years, record

numbers of young people have

applied and been awarded

positions, thanks to the Hire One

Youth program. Moreover, in

recent years, the program has

expanded to offer employment

beyond the summer months

for young people. This

opportunity to earn money has

kept thousands of young people

out of the web of Baltimores

violence and must continue

to grow.

Objective: Provide 12,000 with

summer employment and 4,000

with year- round employment.

Performance Measures:

Number of Youth Works

Positions Filled

Number of year-round Youth

Works Positions

Number of private Youth

Works Positions funded

22
1 3
5
 3 JOBS & OPPORTUNITY : EXPAND BALTIMORE YO! CENTERS

Baltimores YO!(Youth Opportunity Centers) have served 7,000 young people. YO!

focuses on Baltimore youth between the ages of 17-24 who have left school without

graduating. Currently, there are two YO! Centers in Baltimore, one in the east and one

in the west sections of the City. YO! members are provided a wide array of services

that begin with GED instruction and also include job readiness, career planning and

employment connections. The connections between high school graduation and

employment opportunities in Baltimore are widely known. The YO! focus age of 17-

24 makes up a significant portion of this years homicides, thus far and historically in

Baltimore. Expanding YO! would show that Baltimore is serious about providing

second chances and opportunities to young people while simultaneously helping to

reduce violence.

Objective: Double the amount of YO! Centers in Baltimore.

Performance Measures:

Number of YO! Centers

Number of YO! Members

Number of YO! Members receiving job readiness training

Number of YO! Members gaining Diploma/GED

Number of YO! Members placed in employment

22
1 3
6
 3 JOBS & OPPORTUNITY : RETURNING TO BE MORE

Baltimore is home to an overwhelming percentage of Marylands incarcerated and

returning citizens. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on providing

opportunities for those returning to Baltimores neighborhoods in order to prevent

recidivism. Data shows that offenders in Baltimore who are violent or not, are more

often than not re-offenders. Baltimore must expand its focus on returning citizens to

include a targeted focus on providing services to returning violent offenders and a

citywide focus on hiring returning citizens. Moreover, Baltimore must focus on policy

changes/advocation focused on removing challenges for returning citizens,

partnerships with the business community, and improving wraparound services.

Objective: Implement a Citywide Returning Citizens Strategy for Baltimore with a

focus on communities with highest percentages of returning citizens, incarcerated

citizens and violence.

Performance Measures:

Recidivism rate for Returning Citizens from targeted neighborhoods who received

services

Number of Returning Citizens enrolled in services

Number of Returning Citizens served who gain employment

Number of Returning Citizens served earning GED/Diploma

22
1 3
7
LIVE TO BE MORE
A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION
STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE

4
BE MORE ABOUT
201
ur 201 partners and
NEIGHBORHOODS
contributors have helped us
make this year imaginable.
Transformation Zones Government Accountability
More Focused Blight Elimination
Live to Be More Campaign
Neighborhood Stat

28
 4 NEIGHBORHOODS : TRANSFORMATION ZONES

Baltimores Transformation Zones are statistically some of its most violent

neighborhoods. In addition, these areas also contain a very high number of vacant

homes and very few good paying jobs. Ensuring that all city agencies are working

together in a high functioning manner within these zones is paramount to ensuring that

this model is successful. If coordinating agency efforts in order to impact violence is

the goal of Transformation Zones, than performance measures must be in place. In

addition, these measures and efforts must go beyond the typical measures city agencies

are held accountable for. Transformation Zone measures must aim to hasten the

response of all city agencies to even the most minor request, as they too contribute to

violence. They must also be innovative in targeting results never sought before.

Objective: Operate a high functioning government in high crime areas to ensure all

agencies are working to impact violence.

Performance Measures:

Length of time to close Transformation Zone street light service request in

comparison to standard request

Length of time to close Transformation Zone cleaning and boarding service request

in comparison to standard request

Number of Transformation Zone residents employed through MOED efforts

Number of Transformation Zone Homicides and Non-Fatal Shootings

29
29
 4 NEIGHBORHOODS : BLIGHT ELIMINATION

Baltimores struggle with vacant and abandoned structures is well documented.

Despite having 620,000 residents, Baltimore still has a housing stock for 1,000,000.

Throughout the years, there have been many efforts to deal with this issue from Project

5000 to the most recent effort, Vacants To Value. While Vacants To Value has had

great success, there is also a strong need for targeted blight elimination in connection

to violence. The connection between Baltimores most blighted and most violent

neighborhoods is undeniable. According to Baltimore Housing data 35.4% of

residential properties in Sandtown-Winchester are vacant, which is the highest rate in

the City. In addition, Sandtown has 1.2 homicides by gun per 1,000 residents

according to Baltimore Police Data. This strong correlation can also be seen in

neighborhoods like Greenmount East, Upton/Druid Heights and Midway/Coldstream.

Although blight elimination efforts have been undertaken in these areas, a concerted

effort could have a strong impact on violence in those areas.

Objective: Focus blight elimination in areas with both high levels of vacant structures

and gun violence.

Performance Measures:

Number of vacant structures rehabilitated in targeted areas

Number of vacant structures demolished in targeted areas

Number of demolition locations turned into used community green space

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 4 NEIGHBORHOODS : LIVE TO BE MORE CAMPAIGN

Live To Be More must include a public awareness campaign that spreads the word

about the initiatives and spreads the message. A public awareness campaign is

necessary for any effort that hopes to change public behavior and is even more

important for a effort about reducing violence. When looking at the impact of violence,

many make the mistake of thinking only about the individual impacted, and not

including that the trauma is shared by a family and entire community. The Live to Be

More Campaign will be an on the ground effort to spread the message that Baltimore

must Stop Shooting in order to Live to Be More.

Objective: Create a Live to Be More public awareness campaign.

Performance Measures:

Number of Businesses who become Live to Be More locations through posters

Number of Live To Be More radio ads on stations targeted to young black men

Number of follows, mentions, views on Live To Be More social media platforms

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 4 NEIGHBORHOODS : NEIGHBORHOOD STAT

Baltimores City Stat model has been taken to cities across the country to ensure that

their government is functioning at high level of efficiency. However, in recent years

the offices production has declined due to staff and administration changes. Mayor

Pugh has vowed to revamp City Stat to have an even greater impact across city

government. Baltimore is known as a city of neighborhoods, and the conditions of

those neighborhoods often deeply impact life outcomes of those who reside in them.

Creating a Neighborhood Stat that monitors the conditions of individual

neighborhoods that impact citizens ability to live comfortably would be extremely

innovative and impactful. Neighborhood Stat should not only include the traditional

meetings of government agency representatives but, also should include community

leaders from the neighborhoods. Citizens involvement in Neighborhood Stat would

provide much needed solutions on how citizens and government can work togetherto

resolve issues.

Objective: Institute a Neighborhood Stat to create a partnership between government

and citizens to ensure that residents of city neighborhoods quality of life is being

improved through city services.

Performance Measures:

Number of Neighborhood Stats held

Number of Community Leaders who attend Neighborhood Stat

Number of community action plans developed to resolve issues found during

Neighborhood Stat

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LIVE TO BE MORE
A COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION
STRATEGY FOR BALTIMORE

5
Support the BPD to Be More
201
ur 201 partners and
contributors have helped us
make this year imaginable.
Baltimore Community Policing
Train to Be More
Baltimore Gun Stat
Baltimore Auxiliary Police/Cadet Program

33
 5 SUPPORT THE BPD TO BE MORE : COMMUNITY POLICING

Having a community policing strategy in Baltimore has been a hot topic for many

years, but has really come to the forefront following the unrest of 2015. Unfortunately,

despite many efforts from the Baltimore Police Department to improve community

relations, the lack of a clear community policing strategy is strikingly evident.

However, the recent passing of City Council Bill 17-0063 which will create a Citizens

Advisory Commission For Public Safety provides Baltimore with the great opportunity

to develop a community policing strategy. The legislation calls for the commission to

be made up of citizens and police and to develop a Community Interaction

Recommendation Report that outlines how the Baltimore Police Department can

improve all facets of community relations. As many of these recommendations as

possible should be adopted into the creation of a community policing strategy for

Baltimore. In addition, each police district should have its own community policing

advisory group made up of community leaders and district officers, in order to ensure

Baltimores community policing is also locally organic.

Objective: Create a community policing strategy for Baltimore.

Performance Measures:

Number of Community Interaction Recommendation Report suggestions adopted

into community policing strategy

Number of district community policing advisory groups created

Number of district advisory meetings held

Number of Community Interaction Recommendation Report/community policing

strategy targets met annually

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4
 5 SUPPORT THE BPD TO BE MORE : TRAIN TO BE MORE

The training of Baltimore Police Department officers has come under increased

scrutiny in recent years. Specifically, the Baltimore Police Department has been

criticized for its lack of training around cultural competency, biases, understanding of

Baltimore and most importantly, the departments relationship with Baltimores youth.

The Baltimore Police Department has responded by instituting innovative training

partnerships with Outward Bound and Community Mediation Baltimore to improve

relationships with young people. These efforts are a great start, but much more is

required in the effort of training the officers of BPD to be more. Training programs

like Outward Bound and the Community Mediation Youth Dialogue circles should be

a mandatory in-service training for all current officers and included in the academy

training for trainees. Moreover, expanding the History of Baltimore training to include

interaction with current Baltimore Citizens, would provide the program with a greater

impact.

Objective: Continue to improve and innovate training for BPD officers.

Performance Measures:

Number of current officers who have completed Youth Dialogue Training

Number of current officers who have completed Outward Bound Training

Number of officers who have completed biases training

Number of community leaders who participated in history of Baltimore training

Number of trainees who have completed Youth Dialogue Training

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1 3
5
 5 SUPPORT THE BPD TO BE MORE : BALTIMORE GUN STAT

Between 2007-2014 Baltimore saw consistent reductions in gun violence. There were

many factors both governmental and otherwise that contributed to those reductions.

However, many believe that GunStat was one of the most important governmental

functions of the time. GunStat would closely track gun arrests, monitor other gun

related processes, and provide information on the prosecution and sentencing for gun

crimes. With Gun Violence at an all time high in Baltimore, reinstituting GunStat as a

part of Mayor Pughs revamp of CitiStat would be very beneficial. In the past, GunStat

participants included the Office of the Mayor, Baltimore Police Department, Office of

the Attorney General, the Department of Juvenile Services, the States Attorney

Office, Maryland State Police, and the ATF.

Objective: Reinstitute Baltimore GunStat.

Performance Measures:

Number of GunStats held

Number of requested agencies who attend 85% of GunStats

Number of Federal gun cases tracked

Number of gun recidivist tracked

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6
 5 SUPPORT THE BPD TO BE MORE : AUXILIARY POLICE/CADETS

The Baltimore Police Department has struggled with attrition in recent years. The

number of sworn officers assigned to the patrol bureau has fallen from above 1000 to

around 700. Reinstituting an auxiliary unit for the BPD would provide much needed

resources that would allow sworn officers to focus on the increasing violence.Each

district havingat least 10 auxiliary officers whoareable to write reports for minor

crimes like larceny from autos, minor accidents etc.,would be a great force multiplier.

Moreover, the Baltimore Police Department has also struggled to recruit, hire and

retain city residents. However, in partnership with the Mayor and City Council the

department recently reinstituted its police cadet program which hires young people

between 18-20 with a focus on current Police Explorers. This program needs to be

continuously expanded so that the BPD consistently has 100 cadets with at least half of

them being city residents.

Objective: Reinstitute Baltimore Auxiliary Police and Expand Cadet Program.

Performance Measures:

Number of auxiliary officers hired

Number of minor incidents handled by auxiliary officers

Number of cadets

Number of cadets that are city residents

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