City seeks ideas to reduce violence at Nov. 30 Pitch Night

By Press release submission

Oct 31, 2022

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Are you looking to start or enhance your project or organization that is focused on reducing gun violence in Grand Rapids? Now’s your chance. The Safe Alliances for Everyone (SAFE) Task Force wants to hear your idea at its next Pitch and Highlight Night Wednesday, Nov. 30. The event takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, 1530 Madison Ave SE.

Second Ward Commissioner Milinda Ysasi, who serves as co-chair of the Task Force, said, “Many solutions and ideas to reduce crime and violence in Grand Rapids come from our own community. The SAFE Task Force wants to promote and assist in the achievement of those ideas. We look forward to listening to these pitches and learning about new proposals that support prosperous and safe neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.”

Nonprofits and individuals will compete for a partnership with the SAFE Task Force and $10,000 to support their efforts to reduce violence in the community. Five winners will be selected to partner with the City and perform their proposals. Participants will get five minutes to present their idea and show how it will be effective in reducing violence in Grand Rapids.

Proposals must seek to reduce violence and/or gun violence in Grand Rapids
Focus on young people involved in violence 12-24 years of age
Programs/interventions must take place between months of April and September 2023
Demonstrate how they align with the recommendations of the SAFE Task Force, the Police Department’s Strategic Plan, and/or the City’s Strategic Plan.

Nonprofits and individuals may submit proposals to the SAFE Task Force through November 22 at bit.ly/SAFETASKFORCE22.

“The City and the SAFE Task Force is interested in finding new solutions to help reduce violence in our community,” Ysasi said. “We need to support and grow partners to help decrease violence in our community. The Pitch and Highlight Night is about building the capacity of others.”

The SAFE Task Force will fund up to five organizations for a total of $50,000. Winners will be announced at the end of the Pitch and Highlight Night event. All who participate will have the opportunity for additional technical and organizational assistance provided by the Task Force at a later date.