PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Officials gathered in North Philadelphia Friday for the launch of the Group Violence Intervention Juvenile program.
The program is an expansion of the Group Violence Intervention Initiative. It focuses on juveniles most at risk of becoming involved in or experiencing gun violence and is led in part by GVI Director Deion Sumpter, who was incarcerated right out of high school.
Once released, he enrolled in city-based resources and services that allowed him a second chance.
"I was able to connect with individuals that helped me build a network that encouraged me to reenter the workforce, return to college,” he said.
Under the Office of Public Safety, the program will offer substance abuse and behavioral health counseling, family and individual therapy, and workforce development.
Stanley Brown was 21 when he started the GVI program. The now 25-year-old is a surveyor for the city’s Streets Department. He says he hopes the young kids in his neighborhood see his growth and become inspired.
"I honestly know that they don't really have any hope because I didn't have any. I'm doing this for my neighborhood and also myself,” Brown said, “because I know when they see me up here today they're going to want to do better."
This pilot program, which will serve the entire 22nd police district, is funded in part by a $615,000 investment of federal dollars, allowing GVI to hire new dedicated caseworkers to focus on youth and their families.