Introduction to the Blueprint for Action
IntroductionViolence in neighborhoods and communities exacts a toll that goes far beyond the victims and their families. Witnessing violence or living in a community besieged by violent activities not only leads to physical and mental health issues, but also exacerbates widespread unhealthy behavior and a diminished sense of community wellbeing.
In some neighborhoods in Minneapolis, this has led to significant disinvestment by the business community, mass migration of single family households, reduction of property values, and an overall sense of hopelessness among community members. The impact of violent behavior can reverberate beyond the immediately impacted neighborhoods and spread to other cities and regions. In 2008 the City of Minneapolis, in partnership with Hennepin County and The Minneapolis Foundation, launched a strategy called "The Blueprint for Action" to address young adult and juvenile violence. Approximately 80 Minneapolis residents between the ages of 15 and 24 died as a result of homicide from 2003-2006. Homicide was the leading cause of death for Minneapolis residents in this age group, accounting for almost half of all deaths. The Blueprint advanced a multi-pronged, multi-year effort with the belief that youth violence is both addressable and preventable. "The designation of youth violence as a public health issue complements the more traditional view of the problem as a criminal justice concern" By adopting a public health approach to violence, City policymakers asserted that the problem-solving approach that has worked in many different arenas (safe water and air, childhood immunization, prenatal care), should be brought to bear on the issue of violence. Central to the public health approach is a well-defined process of participation and collaboration, measurement, and communication - all critical tools needed to address violence given complex factors that lead to it. | |||||||||||||||
AchievementsThe Blueprint has served as a platform for significant systems change and resource allocation in a coordinated manner. Among the achievements:
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Community ConnectionsAt its most basic level, the Blueprint for Action provides a platform for planning, resource allocation and strategic decision making. The ultimate success of the Blueprint is predicated on the extent that community stakeholders are a part of the process. Owing to the tremendous resources and efforts already underway in Minneapolis, engagement of traditional and non-traditional stakeholders has been a primary objective. Groups such as neighborhood associations, faith communities, schools, libraries, parks, corporate and local businesses, and block clubs have joined the ranks of youth development/serving organizations to provide a broad network of interested parties working together with one common theme: the eradication of youth violence. | |||||||||||||||
Continuing the MomentumThe task of working upstream to prevent youth and young adults from committing violent acts is a long-term process. Less measurable and equally as important is the hopeless feeling many at-risk and high-risk youth and young adults face in their struggle to overcome the challenges, distractions and negative influences in their surroundings. The very real issues they face are manifold and sometimes not easily discernible to others not in their environment. Minneapolis has a storied tradition of mobilizing the community to work for the common good and for the benefit of those in greatest need. We hope you will consider yourself part of the solution to end youth violence and partner with us. We welcome your input, ideas, recommendations and stories on how this plan can be implemented in your neighborhood or block. Above all, we welcome your willingness to support our collective efforts in making a commitment to our youth that we will rise to the occasion and ensure we are building a better community today for a better future tomorrow. Resources: 1 CDC Youth Violence: A report of the Surgeon General 2 U.S. Department of Justice Report: A Review of Minneapolis Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. January 2010 3 As of the first week of November 2011 4 City of Minneapolis Youth Violence Prevention Results Report: 2010 |
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Last updated Jul 20, 2017