Great Lakes Wire

MPHI’s Advance Peace Initiative recently announced its expansion into East Lansing. Previously, the initiative focused on the city of Lansing; however, their efforts revealed that individuals in East Lansing might be at risk of gun violence involvement.

Advance Peace was granted funding to expand into East Lansing during a city council meeting last month. The city entered a $175,000 contract with Advance Peace, funding which will allow the organization to operate its Peacemaker Fellowship® program. The Advance Peace model works to prevent gun violence by utilizing mentorship for those most likely to engage in gun violence.

“We can’t justify their actions; we just have to get them to a space where we can understand why they did what they did,” said Charles Richardson, Strategy Manager for Advance Peace. “It doesn’t excuse it, but we have to acknowledge in some way we all contribute to the problem if we don’t find ways to help.”

This expansion comes at a time when calls for gun violence prevention in East Lansing have increased. Following multiple incidents in the community over the past few years, residents recognize that long-term preventative efforts against gun violence are needed. Advance Peace approaches gun violence as a public health crisis that requires proactive solutions.

“Gun violence is a public health issue in the same way Covid-19 is,” said Dr. Paul Elam, Chief Strategy Officer.

While Advance Peace’s priority is getting the program up and running in East Lansing, Richardson expects future collaboration with the East Lansing School District. The program has previously begun collaborating with the Lansing School District, helping students who may be involved with gun violence develop interpersonal skills and self-confidence to help them remain in school.

“Advance Peace is doing a phenomenal job working with our community partners. Paul [Elam] and Charles [Richardson] are great guys who really care,” said Cordelia Black, Executive Director of Culture and Climate for the Lansing School District.

For the last 18 months, the Advance Peace model has operated in multiple sections of Lansing. The program has seen success with its prior efforts and is optimistic about continuing these efforts in more areas such as East Lansing.

For more information on Advance Peace and East Lansing:

Advance Peace Lansing/Ingham – Working to end Gun Violence and Heal Communities (advancepeacelansingingham.org)

Advance Peace Will Work to Reduce Gun Violence in East Lansing – East Lansing Info