Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity

Rev. Robert Collier Sr., President

Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity

Framework for Violence Elimination
March 2021

A. Background

The city of Philadelphia, like other urban centers, is experiencing unprecedented challenges
such as a historic deadly pandemic that has already claimed the lives of approximately 3,000
Philadelphians and infected approximately 100,000 of our citizens. The pandemic has triggered
an economic downturn that has caused millions of Americans and Philadelphians to lose their
income from jobs and businesses.

Both our nation and city witnessed and experienced massive peaceful protests and civil
disruptions marked by occasionally violent and destructive reaction to pervasive, unjust
racialized policing, resulting in the deaths of unarmed black men and women. As these
occurrences have negatively impacted the quality of life for Philadelphians; the spiraling death
toll due to violence, especially that caused by shootings, has similarly reached epidemic
proportions and consequences. In 2020, approximately 500 lives were violently taken by
homicide, while another 2,300 were victimized and severely injured in shootings. Already a
similar pattern is occurring in early 2021 with shootings over 36% higher than at the same
period last year.

While the COVID-19 related infection rates and hospitalizations are favorably declining, and the
availability of appropriate vaccines are improving; deadly violence continues to plague
Philadelphia. While the pandemic has primarily claimed the lives of older African Americans,
this violence has and is primarily victimizing youth and young adult African Americans,
particularly males.

The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity (BCPV) loves Philadelphia and is committed to
harnessing its leadership, influence and resolve to eradicate violence, increase the safety and
protect the lives of all Philadelphians. As a faith inspired nonprofit and volunteer organization,
BCPV is further committed to collaboratively address the problem of violence alongside leaders
of the religious, philanthropic, public, civic, cultural, business, labor, and professional sectors.
All such interests are stakeholders with capacity, resources, and knowledge that when

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collectively appreciated and leveraged can profoundly and continually eradicate violence and
restore safety in our neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.

BCPV recognizes that neither it nor other individual cohorts or sectors have enough or all the
answers to effectively work alone. It appreciates the need for collaborated public-private multi-
phasic strategy development, accountabilities, and coordination of violence eradication.

BCPV understands the complexity of the social determinants of violence and the need for
convergent, comprehensive, complementary, and substantially resourced approaches over time
that are periodically calibrated and punctually evaluated for optimal outcomes.

Likewise, BCPV recognizes and understands the utility and practicality of cultivating and
curating opportunities for shared, proactive, community based and driven pilot
implementations. Such approaches may rely upon individual and small group activities, asset
based, responsive, practical, real-time, low cost, replicable and high-impact solutioning.

BCPV has convened two Town Halls, as well as a comprehensive full day summit, focused on the
elimination and reduction of gun violence, all which were invaluable to the development of this
framework. It has met with and consulted both governmental, health care experts, religious,
community and youth leaders for their considered and valued perspectives, experience, and
demonstrated know-how. The BCPV has led and joined in marches, prayer vigils and peaceful
protests seeking an end of the violence and the increase of peace and safety in areas hardest
impacted by violence.

The following framework is largely informed by the harvesting of those shared best and
promising practices and approaches. BCPV extends particular thanks to Councilwoman Jamie
Gauthier for her resolution on gun violence which makes a portion of the framework outlined
below. Finally, the BCPV extends special thanks to the members of its Criminal
Justice/Reform/Violence Prevention Committee (President Rev. Robert Collier Sr., Rev. Maxcine
Collier, Rev. Dr. Malcolm Byrd, Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, Rev. Joseph Conner, Rev. Victor
Gimenez, Rev Jeanette Davis, Rev. Robert Collier Jr, Rev. Yvonne Yates, Rev. William Brawner,
Dr. Rochelle Coles) led by Chairman Rev. Gregory Holston for its many hours invested toward
saving the lives of Philadelphians as well as its input in crafting this framework.

B. Racial Justice/Public Health Emergency

Gun violence is both a racial justice and public health emergency. Public health emergencies
organize themselves into three tiers: preventive, intervention and restorative. Preventive
measures are public health policy that all members of the community must perform.
Intervention measures are public health policies that address those that are at risk. Restorative
measures are public health policies that restore people that have already been affected.

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For example, in addressing Covid-19, BCPV recognizes we all must use preventive measures
such as wearing masks and social distancing from one another. Intervention measures are for
those who are at risk, 60 years and older. Such measures include asking them to stay home.
Restorative measures are for those who are already infected therefore they are asked to
quarantine or they must be hospitalized.

In the same sense, BCPV believes we must address gun violence. Preventive measures include
adherence to gun safety policies and providing sustainable communities for everyone.
Intervention measures include specific policies for those who are at risk (people who have been
exposed to violence.) All who are at risk must be provided services that address the trauma of
violence before they create violence themselves. Restorative measures are specific policies for
those who commit the violence themselves. BCPV recognizes they must be brought to justice
but they also must be restored to the community and must be restored themselves. This three-
tier public health approach is what Philadelphia must do to reduce and eliminate gun violence
in our city. The following recommendations are developed based upon this three-tiered public
health approach.

C. BCPV Actions/Recommendations for Its Own Organization and the Faith Community

BCPV recognizes that it must actively demonstrate the same leadership that it solicits of and
encourages other organizations and leaders to make during these crucial times. We endeavor
to set a reasonable example or role model by our ongoing and forthcoming actions.

● The BCPV will enthusiastically work with Mayor Kenney, City Council, the District
Attorney, State and Federal elected officials to create a Public/ Private Partnership to
raise 100 million dollars dedicated to community-based violence solutions and
community organizations.

● The BCPV will enthusiastically work with Mayor Kenney, City Council, State and Federal
elected officials to advocate for a Philadelphia Marshall Plan that will provide billions of
dollars dedicated to eliminating poverty, expanded and sustainable continuous
workforce development, living wage jobs with career paths, entrepreneurship
opportunities, affordable and adequate housing, and quality and accessible healthcare
including behavioral health.

● The BCPV will also enthusiastically work with the Governor, Mayor Kenney, City Council,
State and Federal elected officials to advocate for full and fair funding of our schools
which will provide approximately $400 million more dollars each year to our School
District budget. All additional revenue could be used to better educate our children,

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 repair environmentally compromised schools, build new schools and provide new anti-
violence programs.

● BCPV will support the District Attorney’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission
which addresses the last 60 years of police and prosecutorial misconduct which includes
gun violence with the goal of reducing or eliminating systemic racism.

● BCPV will work actively with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Outlaw in forming a
partnership to eliminate violence and change the culture of policing.

● The BCPV will encourage Philadelphia faith leaders and institutions to amplify and
magnify their presence, moral authority, spiritual and religious influence, and assets in
neighborhoods. We further urge them to directly engage individuals and families in
nonviolent conflict avoidance, resolution training, mediations and activities.

● BCPV encourages the Philadelphia faith communities to seek out plausible pathways to
further resource their capabilities to resuscitate, harness and mobilize prophetic resolve
toward making our neighborhoods, streets and homes safe.

● BCPV encourages places of worship to seek to provide spiritual guardianship of the

residential blocks and commercial corridors within several blocks’ radius, and when
requested intentionally and actively provide prayer, religious instruction, spiritual and
moral guidance. In addition, places of worship are actively encouraged to provide
supportive services such as food distribution, clothing distribution, mentoring,
workforce development and other assistance for those involved in violence.

D. BCPV Recommendations for Mayor and City Administration

The BCPV recommends the following framework and approaches to help make Philadelphia a
safe and violence free city:

1. Mayor Kenney is encouraged to appoint a Czar/Deputy Mayor delegated to

comprehensively address violence eradication who has executive level authority
and directly reports to and is accountable to the Mayor.

a. The Deputy Mayor/Czar must be empowered to coherently structure, adjust and

regularly convene all municipal government and city officials responsible for
public safety, to inventory, assess and publicly disclose all planned and current
strategic developments, funding, programming, coordination, and administration

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 related to the eradication, reduction, and management of violence. Further, such
Czar must have the authority to shift funding and staffing resources as
determined advisable and necessary between municipal agencies to optimally
further the reduction and elimination of violence in Philadelphia.

b. Such Deputy Mayor/Czar is encouraged to establish a prevention and

intervention initiative in which vetted neighborhood influencers, faith and
community leaders may be deployed to appropriate relationships with the
community members in neighborhood hotspots experiencing or at heightened
risk of violence.

c. The Deputy Mayor/Czar is urged to determine how to reprioritize and increase

the budget for the Administration’s Office on Gun Violence Reduction from $14.5
million in fiscal year 2019-2020 to $17.5 million for fiscal year 2021- 2022.

d. The Mayor will ensure that BCPV and other community stakeholders will meet
quarterly with the Deputy Mayor/Czar.

2. Consistent with Councilwoman Gauthier’s resolution #200447, BCPV supports the

following listed (a-e)

a. Mayor Kenney is encouraged to issue an executive order declaring a citywide gun

violence emergency, which would include directing the Office of Violence
Reduction, the Police Department and other applicable City agencies to (i)
implement the Roadmap to Safer Communities with fidelity, (ii) elevate their
response to this crisis to the level of the City’s response to COVID-19 and (iii)
provide weekly public briefings on the City’s efforts to combat the gun violence
epidemic, performance goals, inputs and outputs.

b. Recalibrate and equip staff with the tools, instruments and means for program
monitoring and fair and reliable, punctual evaluation of the programs, initiatives,
and projects administered and implemented as part of the Roadmap.

c. The Mayor should do everything possible to Improve and track coordination

among municipal departments towards the goal of reducing gun violence and
enable them to provide enhanced services to neighborhoods impacted by gun
violence.

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 d. The Mayor should encourage partnership with the Council of the City of
Philadelphia, the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office to prioritize and
sustainably invest in long-term innovative intragovernmental gun violence
reduction efforts.

e. The Mayor should initiate a Mayoral call to responsible leadership and action to
local private sector, healthcare, and educational institution leaders to generate
and appropriate funds, increase research and innovative practices, and cross
sector collaboration. This call should also focus on increasing the availability and
access to meaningful workforce development, jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities
and career paths toward combating poverty that may foster or perpetuate
violence.

3. The Mayor should ensure that all programs and strategies implemented by any
department, office, organization or group receiving funding for violence reduction
include a measurable evaluative component geared toward measuring the
effectiveness of the program, strategy, etc. in reducing violence, particularly gun
violence.

4. All City Government departments and offices dedicated to violence reduction

under the Mayor’s leadership and authority should facilitate collaboration with
BCPV and other Faith-Based Organizations, Community Groups such as Mothers In
Charge and Every Murder Is Real, Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network,
MEE Productions, YEAH Philly, Cease Fire PA, Heeding God’s Call, Fraternities and
Sororities and all viable community based and volunteer organizations.

5. All City Government departments and offices focusing on violence reduction

should work with juvenile probation and parole, the Courts, the Departments of
Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Community Economic Empowerment
Office and the School District of Philadelphia to create comprehensive prevention
and intervention initiatives and programs with youth who are involved in or at risk
of being directly engaged in violence. The same should be provided for those
youth who are directly impacted by violence in any manner.

a. Target initiatives and approaches that addresses nuanced violence prevention

and curtailment strategies that for developmentally age-appropriate cohorts
[pre-adolescent, adolescent and early adult].

b. Originate multi-media ad campaigns with local marketing and advertising firms

and media professionals geared toward reducing violent acts committed by
youth.
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 c. Strengthen and optimize violence prevention through collaborations with the
Philadelphia Sports teams [76ers, Eagles, Flyers, Union and Phillies] for creative
programming and availability of mentorship programs, youth sport camps

6. All city departments, offices and agencies dealing with violence prevention should
collaborate to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to engage with
residents and key stakeholders, including the faith-based community. An online
dashboard and app should be created to document and report progress on anti-
violence activities. The chief focus should be the creation of safe and healthy
neighborhoods. This includes generating and expanding public, philanthropic, and
corporate funding for better resourcing these efforts for community-based
preventive, intervention and restorative practices and strategies around all
violence, including gun violence.

E. CONCLUDING STATEMENT FROM BLACK CLERGY PRESIDENT

President Robert Collier, Sr. wishes to thank those who have collaborated with Black Clergy of
Philadelphia and Vicinity (BCPV) in its efforts to make a difference in bringing about a better
quality of life for all Philadelphians. He acknowledges and thanks Councilwoman Gauthier for
her resolution on Gun Violence, portions of which are cited in this Framework. BCPV recognizes
Violence, especially gun violence, as the second Pandemic plaguing Philadelphia, one that is as
life threatening as COVID-19. Working together through the implementation of this
Framework, BCPV feels that we can stem the tide of this deadly violence pandemic and make
our streets safe for all Philadelphia residents, especially our children.

F. Other Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity Acknowledgements

BCPV is appreciative of the commitment and strategic leadership of Mayor Jim Kenney, Police
Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, District Attorney Larry Krasner and other key members of city
government for daily leading and managing resources targeted to the eradication of violence.
Equally BCPV thanks City Council President Darrell Clarke, Councilmen Curtis Jones and
Kenyatta Johnson for their ongoing leadership, advocacy, long and ongoing commitment to
directly tackling the issues of public safety and gun violence reduction toward keeping our
communities and city safe. Similarly, we thank State Senators Vincent Hughes and Shariff Street
and US Congressman Dwight Evans for their continuous efforts to reduce violence and focus on
public safety.

Rev. Robert Collier, Sr., President of Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity (BCPV)
Rev. Gregory Holston, Chair of BCPV Criminal Justice/Reform/Violence Prevention Committee