Working at the intersection of violence and land use (preventioninstitute.org)

This past September, the Healthy, Equitable, Active Land Use (HEALU) Network convened a summit in Los Angeles to explore the nexus of land use and community safety, drawing nearly 100 community members, policymakers, and representatives of community-based organizations. Our new report shares key learnings from this summit and invites people working in land use, transportation, food policy, education, housing, and other areas to consider the ways their own work can support safe communities.

Violence is a complex issue and addressing its underlying causes requires that we think and work across sectors to strengthen the “resilience” factors that protect and support communities, and reduce the “risk” factors that make violence more likely to occur. A comprehensive approach to violence prevention places current residents at the center of efforts—honoring community voices and priorities, considering the context and history of each neighborhood, providing space for individuals and communities to heal from the trauma of violence, promoting local ownership, embracing local cultural and artistic traditions, and protecting residents from the threat of displacement as communities become safer and more desirable places to live.

As you consider how your own work can support safer, more resilient communities, think through some of the following questions:

• How do violence and the fear of violence act as barriers to your organization accomplishing its goals?
• What are some concrete ways you could integrate violence prevention strategies in your organization’s efforts? (For example, transportation agencies determine where to route bus or rail lines, how frequently services will be offered in each neighborhood, and how safe transit stops look and feel to riders.)  
• How does your organization show that it values and recognizes the expertise of community members?
• What protections are in place to ensure that new land use investments benefit existing residents? Are existing residents informed about and in agreement with the protections?
• How can land use decisions better connect people to opportunities for learning, arts, and cultural and political expression?

To read more of Rachel Bennett's article, please click here.

The 16 page report "Land Use and Violence Prevention A Summit of the Healthy, Equitable, Active Land Use Network (HEALU Network)" is attached.