The City of Champaign launched its Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint in February 2022, and the plan looked to address the root causes of gun violence and reduce violent incidents in the community.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - In February 2022, the City of Champaign launched its Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint. The plan looked to address the root causes of gun violence and reduce violent incidents. 

Jorge Elvir is the Community Relations Manager for the Community Safety and Justice Division within the City of Champaign's Equity and Engagement Department. He said the city is continuing to support the plan. 

"We look at it from a very holistic perspective that any day violence can happen, so we are just on the go and ready each day," said Elvir. " WE just look at how we could approach a situation, how are we going to be proactive, and how do we want to respond when something happens?" 

Within the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint is support for local organizations backing the same mission. Banio Koroma Jr. is the founder and executive director of Vision to Succeed, a non-profit providing mentors to young men in the Champaign community. 

Koroma Jr. said his partnership with young men in the community is making a difference, whether or not city numbers change. 

"Seeing a difference is not just the statistics," Koroma Jr. said. "It's actually when you see people in the community, and they come up to you and say, 'Thank you, you saved my son. He turned his life around.'"

Koroma Jr. added that a key difference maker within the organization is the ability to connect with kids. When he can change one kid's attitude and perspective, they can influence their peers. 

Champaign posts updated statistics for gun violence. They can be found at the bottom of this web page.

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