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Bridging the Divide: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Philadelphia’s Gun Violence Epidemic

March 14, 2023

 

In March 2023, the Stoneleigh Foundation convened city officials, community organizers, representatives from law enforcement and the judiciary, physicians, advocates, researchers, journalists, and funders for a day of candid conversation, civil exchange, and problem-solving around Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic.

The convening featured Stoneleigh’s Fellows, grantees, and partners working on gun violence, who shared diverse perspectives on the root causes of the crisis and how these perspectives impact the ways we choose to prevent, address, and resource the issue. In addition, participants engaged in three problem-solving sessions focused on improving coordination of services and access to data, changing the gun violence narrative from inevitable to preventable, and building community agency and authentic partnerships. The following document provides a summary of the ideas and suggestions generated during those discussions. The goal of this summary is to elevate the voices, viewpoints, and visions of the convening attendees.

View the Bridging the Divide Summary

View the agenda

 

 

SPEAKERS

Ruth Abaya, MD
Stoneleigh Fellow
Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Jessica Beard, MD
Stoneleigh Fellow
Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting and Temple University Hospital

Kevin Bethel
Chief Safety Officer
School District of Philadelphia

Ronnie Bloom
Executive Director
Stoneleigh Foundation

Kathy Christiano
Board Chair
Stoneleigh Foundation

Dorothy Johnson-Speight
Founder and National Executive Director
Mothers In Charge

Cheryl Thompson-Morton
Black Media Initiative Director
Center for Community Media, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY

Estelle Richman
Executive Director
Civic Coalition to Save Lives

Andre Simms
Lead Organizer
Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project

Nikki Smith-Kea
Stoneleigh Fellow
Philadelphia Police Department

Marie Williams
Deputy Director
Stoneleigh Foundation

Who We Are

The Stoneleigh Foundation was founded in 2006 by John and Chara Haas to improve the life outcomes of our community's youth. We meet our mission by awarding Fellowships to exceptional leaders who advance change in the systems that serve these young people.

Our Priorities

We seek to improve the life outcomes of our community’s youth by advancing change in the systems that serve them. Because we believe that youth are best served when systems work together to holistically address their needs, Stoneleigh prioritizes work designed to strengthen coordination between or among these systems.

Our Projects

We award two types of projects that catalyze change within, alongside, and outside of youth-serving systems. Our Fellowship Projects enhance how systems work together, improve practice, shift narratives, and generate new knowledge through action-oriented research. Our Youth Partnership Projects support youth-centric organizations that build the leadership and advocacy skills of young people.

Advancing The Field

We are pragmatic and have a bias toward action. We advance the field by hosting public events, publishing policy-relevant research and reports, and elevating the work of our Fellows and grantees in the media.

Apply

We award two types of Fellowships to exceptional individuals who work within and alongside youth-serving systems to catalyze change. Our Fellows undertake projects that enhance how systems work together, improve practice, and generate new knowledge through action-oriented research.