A Campaign to Stop Shootings In Our Community
What Is CeaseFire?
CeaseFire is a targeted, research-based violence intervention program first developed in Chicago with a unique public health approach to prevent violence. It operates under the belief that violence is, in essence, a contagious issue that spreads through communities, but one that can be interrupted and prevented through strategic, evidence-driven action. CeaseFire Philadelphia aims to replicate this proven model within the city’s 14th District in North Philadelphia, a community that faces significant challenges with gun violence.
The program is structured around the understanding that simply increasing law enforcement presence is not enough to address the root causes of violence. Instead, CeaseFire uses a disciplined, multifaceted strategy that includes outreach, education, and collaboration with key community figures. This includes rallying residents, local businesses, community organizations, and faith leaders to build a unified front against violence.
One of the central aspects of CeaseFire is its commitment to transforming public attitudes toward violence. By fostering community-wide awareness and helping individuals understand the far-reaching impact of gun violence, the program encourages collective responsibility. Through CeaseFire, area residents and leaders are empowered not only to understand violence as a preventable issue but to actively participate in creating safer neighborhoods. The program’s methods include mobilizing high-risk individuals, offering support and alternatives, and cultivating positive relationships with young people, all geared toward curtailing the immediate and long-term threat of gun violence.
The Challenge
Philadelphia stands as a stark representation of the youth violence crisis gripping American cities, where young lives are increasingly cut short by gun violence. Nationally, homicide is the second leading cause of death for teens aged 15 to 19, but in Philadelphia, this grim statistic escalates—it is the leading cause of death for youth in this age group. The crisis is particularly intense among youth ages 7 to 24, with 2008 witnessing a devastating 20% rise in homicides, totaling 179 young lives lost. Nearly every death was caused by firearms, underscoring the critical role that gun violence plays in this epidemic.
This deadly trend is dual-sided: juveniles are not only becoming more frequent victims of gun-related injuries but also increasingly involved as perpetrators. In 2008 alone, an alarming two-thirds of Philadelphia’s shooting offenders were aged 14 to 24. This troubling reality reflects the profound challenges facing the city, where violence among youth often emerges from cycles of trauma, lack of resources, and systemic inequalities. Without targeted interventions, the risk of young people falling victim to or engaging in violent acts remains dangerously high. Philadelphia’s CeaseFire initiative, inspired by successful models from other cities, represents a critical response aimed at breaking this cycle, saving lives, and fostering a safer future for its youth.
Community Mobilization
Community mobilization involves engaging residents, local businesses, and faith leaders to work collaboratively, creating a supportive environment that fosters safety and change.
Youth
Outreach
Help redirect lives and transform futures by supporting outreach efforts. Investing in at-risk youth can break the cycle of violence and foster hope.
Public
Education
Promote nonviolence by sharing knowledge and spreading the message in our communities. Awareness campaigns can change attitudes and reduce the acceptance of violence.
Leadership Involvement
Leaders must unite to guide and uplift our youth. Their active presence and mentorship can inspire change and provide positive alternatives to violence.
Criminal Justice Participation
Hold offenders accountable to ensure a safer community. Collaboration between law enforcement and residents fosters trust and promotes a culture of accountability.
From Risk to Resilience:
The Right Approach for Change in Philadelphia
Philadelphia CeaseFire remains a bold initiative dedicated to reducing violence in Philadelphia’s 22nd Police District, an area disproportionately affected by shootings and homicides. Inspired by the evidence-based Chicago CeaseFire model, this program applies a five-part approach to interrupt violence and foster safer communities. Through Community Mobilization, Youth Outreach, Faith-Based Leader Involvement, Police Participation, and Public Education, Philadelphia CeaseFire aims to connect with high-risk individuals, offer critical support, and mobilize community resources. Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the program leverages the expertise of Temple University’s Center for Bioethics Urban Health & Policy to drive change and measure impact.
The Right Approach
The Right Community
The Right Participants
The Right Partners
The Right Message
The Right Approach
The goal of Philadelphia ceasefire is to reduce the level of violence, particularly shootings and homicides, by replicating the ceasefire Chicago model in the 22nd Police District of Philadelphia. Philadelphia ceasefire will utilize the five core components of the Chicago model 1) Community Mobilization 2) Youth Outreach 3) Faith-Based Leader Involvement 4) Police Department Participation and 5) Public Education. The program’s goals replicate those of the Chicago CeaseFire evidence-based program which is an initiative of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention.
The Right Community
Philadelphia recorded 697 firearm homicides over three years. The 22nd District in North Philadelphia, with less than 2% of the city’s population and covering 3.25 square miles, accounted for 10% of the city’s 362 homicides. This senseless violence must end.
The Right Participants
The ceasefire Philadelphia program uses the same client selection criteria of identifying high-risk to use as the Chicago CeaseFire program. To be classed as high-risk, and that’s eligible for recruitment, individuals must meet at least four of a list of client criteria they must be between the ages of 14 and 25, have a prior history of offending and the rest, be a member of a gang, have been in prison, has been the recent victim of a shooting, and involved in “high-risk street activity.”
The Right Partners
The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and led by the Philadelphia Coalition against violence, which includes local community, civic, business and faith-based organizations. Temple’s Center for Bioethics Urban Health & Policy provides technical support to the program and utilizes the expertise of a multidisciplinary team across Temple University to collect and evaluate data.
The Right Message
Critical to the success of CeaseFire is developing the right message delivered by the right messengers. CeaseFire’s success relies on powerful messaging from its director, supervisor, and outreach workers. Clients are chosen directly, with outreach workers spending 80% of their time in the field, building and maintaining high-risk client relationships.
Sign Up to Stay Connected! Because we are Stronger Together!
Join the Movement for Change: Stay Connected with CeaseFire Philadelphia
By staying connected to CeaseFire Philadelphia, you become part of a transformative mission to combat gun violence and uplift our communities. Your involvement amplifies our collective voice and strengthens our efforts to create safer neighborhoods for everyone. Together, we can drive meaningful change, support at-risk youth, and foster a culture of nonviolence. Whether through volunteering, sharing our message, or advocating for change, your support is crucial. Join us and be a catalyst for hope and healing in Philadelphia—together, we can make a difference!
1700 N. Broad Street, Rm 316
Philadelphia, PA 19122
441 E. High Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19144
1-844-5-CEASEFIRE
Stronger Together: 24/7 Crisis Intervention Program
The Philadelphia CeaseFire program, based at the Katz School of Medicine at Temple University has established a 24hr Crisis Intervention program funded by VOCA that provides victim services support to individuals and families that have been impacted by crime throughout the City of Philadelphia.
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PhilaCeaseFire staff working in the school, were screened by a community hiring panel including personnel from Mastery Gratz. We’ve had two full-time outreach workers and a part-time Life Coach in the school, working in tandem with the PhilaCeasefire team in the community. CeaseFire staff has worked with specific