444 Albany Ave, Hartford, CT 06120
444 Albany Ave, Hartford, CT 06120
It’s Saturday night in the north end of Hartford, and another young man has been shot. Right away, families in the neighborhood alert “Brother Carl Hardrick,”who has been working in the streets of Hartford for more than 50 years connecting with young people, Law enforcement, community Leaders and residents to care for victims of gun violence. Brother Carl notifies the hospital and a team of community responders to help with the crisis.
Since much of the gun and other violence is often the result of personal disagreement among small groups of young men and women, the intensive, personalized approach of Brother Carl and his team has shown to be an effective way to intervene, work directly with the victims and their families, coordinate with the Local hospitals and Law enforcement. This work depends on a cadre of trustworthy messengers, like Brother Carl, who know the community and who are trusted to show up, be present and coordinate with Law enforcement, hospitals and community groups.
Hartford endures an average of 100 shootings per year – and the sufferers of PTSD total hundreds of additional family members and loved ones.
The Brother Carl Hardrick Institute for Violence Prevention will focus on evidence-based strategies for the prevention of gun and community violence that expands the number violence intervention specialists and youth development practitioners. It will establish specific and meaningful actions to deter gun violence and other violent crimes.
Providing training, supervision, deployment, and eventually certifying Violence Prevention Professionals (VPP) who will be equipped to work with perpetrators, victims, families and community members.
Well-targeted and implemented law enforcement strategies designed to deter criminal gun possession and violence can reduce shootings.
There has been a 36.7% increase in shootings in Hartford this year over last.
The Y serves as the central hub for children and families in the neighborhood and has been at the forefront of gun violence prevention and community safety initiatives. The Y and Hartford Communities that Care received federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants that will help the Hartford Crisis Response Team/Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program address violent crime in Hartford and its consequences.
The Institute will be administered by staff, and governed by a nonpartisan, apolitical Ambassador Committee comprised of Local community Leaders, philanthropists, and others who will who will strategically guide and support the Institute. The Implementation Committee will be comprised of existing Hartford Community Safety Coalition members and Executive Directors of Partner Agencies who will continue to meet regularly to shepherd the program.
The Fund will be part-endowed and part-current use, to enable immediate distributions to the community for urgent needs, and to grow a deep resource to address the long-term issue if ensuring community safety. The Institute will include a research component to enable each program to be evaluated and to create meaningful metrics in which to measure impact.
The Hartford Community Safety Coalition (CSC) was formed in April 2018 to formalize and coordinate efforts of community responders like Brother Carl and the local associations and nonprofits working in the neighborhoods. Under the leadership a Steven Bayer, a long time leader of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and JoAnn Price, former Board Chair of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, teams of service providers who do work in Hartford around gun violence came together to coordinate strategies, share learning and innovate about new models to try to reduce gun violence in Hartford.
Exposure to gun violence affects the quality of life for victims and their families. Interventions addressing gun violence have an impact on the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of children, youth and families. The effects of this harm extend not just to victims, but also to witnesses, bystanders, neighbors, and all those who love them. Violence induced trauma is an invisible wound that, left untreated, infects its victim, extended family and vulnerable children. Focusing on street violence and targeted populations at risk will ultimately contribute to the reduction of gun violence in our community.
As an outgrowth of this grassroots effort, several local community leaders mobilize to address gun violence in a new way; by creating an institute that will build on the work of Brother Carl.
As we look to impact our community in a positive way and make a dent in the violence that plauges our loved ones, we offer you an opportunity to join us in our efforts. We ask that you keeping up-to-date with our latest happenings and donate to our efforts.