Every day the news is flooded with stories of different types of violence. On what seems like a daily basis, we’re bombarded with relentless reports of violence in this country. Our register of national tragedies keeps growing: hate crimes, mass shootings, and #Metoo headlines are only the most recent outbreaks of an epidemic of violence in our homes, public spaces, and communities.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in an environment where violence takes so many forms, adversely affecting public health in both clear and complex ways. But we’re not helpless. We don’t have to keep living—and dying—like this, leaving our children a legacy of trauma. We have the power to change.
Violence doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It’s often a result of a systematic wearing down of communities, families, and individuals by adverse circumstances. Over my decades-long career in public health, I’ve worked with communities across the country to understand and address the causes of violence. I’ve learned a lot from people working to prevent gun violence, domestic violence, and violence affecting youth.
It’s all connected.
To prevent violence, we need to understand that many forms of violence share underlying causes, including economic insecurity, trauma, racism, misogyny, social disconnection, and access to deadly weapons. Often, communities affected by one or more of these conditions experience multiple forms of violence. Recognizing shared risk factors empowers us to address multiple forms of violence simultaneously.
Promote a cycle of health, reduce the cycle of violence.
Health and safety are closely connected. For violence prevention strategies to be successful, promoting health is essential. Just as risk factors for violence may be shared across multiple forms of violence, we know that promoting resilience insulates people from violence. Education, strong social networks, and norms that support healthy relationships all protect against violence. People need access to jobs and education, as well as a sense of feeling safe and welcome in their environment to walk in their neighborhood, engage with their neighbors, or let their children ride bicycles in local parks. Those who are safe in their environments are more likely to have strong social networks, get enough physical activity, and consume healthier foods – whether by growing vegetables in an outdoor garden or walking or taking the bus to markets that sell healthy food.
Communities most affected by violence know best.
Homicide in South Los Angeles, as in many urban areas across the United States, is one of the leading causes of premature death. “Parks After Dark” launched in 2010 as a prevention strategy of Los Angeles County’s Gang Violence Reduction Initiative. Three participating parks offered extended evening hours to welcome members of the community to interact in well-lit, supervised parks. Parks After Dark also promoted health by organizing sports teams and exercise programs; providing classes on healthy cooking, literacy, juvenile justice, and parenting and computer skills; and offering arts and crafts, free concerts and movie screenings, and access to health and social service resources. The program has since expanded with the support of community groups and the city’s Department of Public Health. The result? Violent crimes in the communities surrounding the original three parks declined 32% during summer months from 2009 to 2013. In nearby communities that did not participate in Parks After Dark, violent crime increased 18% during this same time period. According to surveys, 97% of people who joined Parks After Dark reported feeling safe.
These kinds of strategies have great potential to save lives and transform communities. Violence isn’t inevitable. By investing in what we know works, we can take meaningful action to prevent violence.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jerry Kiesewetter. CC0 Public Domain via Unsplash.