Chicago anti-violence groups struggle

Bell typically travels the neighborhood in a group. But lately he has been walking alone.
CeaseFire has been in limbo for the last six weeks. When the group lost its state funding--which accounted for 85 percent of its budget--in the spending plan approved by the General Assembly last month, it was forced to lay off 150 workers, including all of its outreach workers. That has left only 20 violence interrupters to work the streets since July, said Tio Hardiman, CeaseFire Illinois director.

But good news came two weeks ago: Gov. Quinn announced CeaseFire would be receiving most of its state funding. The group is set to get $5.6 million, down from the $6.2 million it typically receives. Bell is hopeful the Austin office will reopen by Sept. 1 after CeaseFire rehires some of its workers.

CeaseFire is not alone in struggling to save its programs, staff and mission. Amid hard times for state-funded groups, anti-violence leaders who talked to RedEye said a decrease in government support and contributions from individuals has hurt their groups' presence in violence-prone neighborhoods at a time of year they're needed most.

Fifty-eight homicides were recorded in July, the most of any month this year, according to a RedEye analysis of preliminary police data. While that's down from the 64 murders Chicago police logged last July, the numbers tend to rise in the summer, when kids are out of school, Chicago police statistics show.

July historically has been such a grisly month, Phillip Jackson dubs it "Hell Month." Jackson runs The Black Star Project, a Bronzeville-based group that walks through the South and West Sides handing out "Peace in the Hood" T-shirts and wristbands and placing posters in store windows. The group also hosts workshops for parents and teens on how to reduce risk factors for violence, such as dealing with anger in a constructive manner.

Black Star also is seeing its monetary support wane, and the group has had to lay off three workers this summer, Jackson said.

Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy director Phillip Hampton, who took over the community policing organization in mid-July, said groups such as Black Star "are clearly our partners."

"They're very important to us holistically. The police can definitely not do it alone," Hampton said. "CAPS program, too, has suffered cuts, as has any city agency. ... We're concerned about the overall impact it will have on our efforts to have a vibrant and safe community."

In stating his case for the need for government support, Hardiman points to August 2007, when former Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed money for CeaseFire. The loss of state funding came at about the time the Illinois auditor general criticized CeaseFire for poor accounting methods.

State Sen. Donne Trotter, who represents southeast Chicago and the south suburbs, also has criticized CeaseFire. Trotter told RedEye CeaseFire should share its funding with other anti-violence groups, which typically don't get nearly as much money as CeaseFire. "We have allowed this one approach the exclusive rights to try to make a difference in the community," said Trotter, the lead budget negotiator for Senate Democrats. "There are other approaches that have to be recognized."

In May 2008, a three-year Northwestern University study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice concluded that gun violence dropped 17 to 24 percent in six of seven neighborhoods that received CeaseFire services.

On a recent canvass in Austin, Bell, the outreach supervisor, encountered Andre Chatman, 18, whom CeaseFire has been counseling for a few months after he was arrested on a weapons violation charge.

"I'd probably still be getting into trouble if they're not around," Chatman said. "We would have no people to guide us."

Other groups hope they'll be able to keep their services intact. Build, Inc., based in West Town, provides homework assistance and tutoring help to six high schools and 20 elementary schools with high-risk youth.

Because of decreased assistance from the government and United Way, Build, Inc., instituted furlough days for its staff from February through June, development director Amber Mandley said. Salaries were frozen July 1.

Black Star's Jackson said such cuts could lead to a rise in violence.

"These groups are basically the front-line fighters of the violence, but they're being left out there with no resources, with no support and they are going to go away," Jackson said. "There is no way that the police by themselves can stop or control the violence that is happening in these communities."

Chicago's four anti-violence groups
RedEye reviews four anti-violence groups in Chicago. Revenue numbers are from paperwork filed with the Internal Revenue Service and posted on guidestar.org, which provides data on charity finances.

Build, Inc.
1223 N. Milwaukee Ave.
buildchicago.org
773-227-2880
Founded: 1969
2008 revenue: $2,247,511
2007 revenue: $2,170,293
Funding sources: Government, foundation, special events, corporations, United Way and individual support
Number of workers: 41
Territory: Belmont Cragin, East Garfield Park, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Near North Side (Cabrini Green) and West Town

Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
223 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 802
ichv.org, 312-341-0939
Founded: 1975
2007 revenue: $605,865
2006 revenue: $490,750
Funding sources: Corporations, foundation and individual support
Number of workers: Four
Territory: Statewide, with a focus on South and West Sides of Chicago

Life Directions
414 S. Homan Ave., Second Floor
lifedirections.org
773-265-5806
Founded: 1973 in Detroit
2007 revenue: $992,205
2006 revenue: $903,446
Funding sources: Corporations, foundation and individual support
Number of workers: One full-time, one part-time as of press time
Territory: East Garfield Park, North Lawndale and South Lawndale

The Black Star Project
3509 S. King Drive, 2B
blackstarproject.org
773-285-9600
Founded: 1996
2006 revenue: $302,617
2005 revenue: $423,647
Funding sources: Fee-for-service work, foundation and individual support
Number of workers: Six full-time, four part-time
Territory: Austin, Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Humboldt Park, Kenwood, North Lawndale, Roseland and South Shore