Our story

Neighborhood Safety was created as the Office of Violence Prevention in 2018. Our roots go back much further.
Violence touches us all and affects our health
Violence touches us all and affects our health

How we came to be

The City first identified violence as a public health issue in 2006. Initially, we focused on youth violence. Today we focus on violence affecting people of all ages.

Here are some key moments in our story.

2006

  • City leaders identified youth violence as a public health issue. 
  • We convened experts to create a strategic plan called The Blueprint for Action to Prevent Youth Violence.

2012

  • Minneapolis joined nine other cities as part of the Obama administration's National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.
  • We released a revised Blueprint for Action to Prevent Youth Violence. 

See the Blueprint for Action

2015

  • We launched our first programs to expand beyond youth violence: Next Step and Group Violence Intervention

2018

  • City leaders amended the Code of Ordinances to create the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP).
  • We established the Violence Prevention Fund to fund community-driven strategies.

Find the amendment in our Legislative Information Management System (LIMS)

2021

  • We launched the MinneapolUS Strategic Outreach Initiative.
  • Minneapolis was one of 16 cities invited to join President Biden’s Community Violence Intervention Collaborative 

We rely on others to join us in this work, including:

  • Other City departments
  • Other public jurisdictions
  • Community organizations 
  • Individuals

We partner with more than 70 community-based partners each year.

Somali man and women at a community meeting

 

Contact us

 

Neighborhood Safety

Address

250 Fourth St S, Room 110
Minneapolis, MN 55415