Metropolitan Peace Initiatives

Meet Illinois Peace Project Peace Portraits honoree Tavares Harrington, Outreach Supervisor for the Austin neighborhood at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago Harrington is an integral part of building peace on the West Side, managing more than a dozen outreach workers who de-escalate hostile situations, provide case management services, and support those most vulnerable to gun violence.

Meet 2026 ‘Peace Portraits’ Honoree Tavares Harrington - Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Meet Peace Portraits honoree Tavares Harrington, Outreach Supervisor for the Austin neighborhood at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INVC).

June is National ! Last week Metropolitan Peace Initiatives , Communities Partnering 4 Peace - CP4P , Illinois Peace Project and other organizations came together in strong support of the 13th annual Strides for Peace Race Against Gun Violence in downtown Chicago.

MPI and CP4P Lace up for a Good Cause at the 2026 Strides for Peace Race Against Gun Violence - Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) and Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) came together in strong support of the 13th annual Strides for Peace Race Against Gun Violence in downtown Chicago.

“We want [young people] to have a good time in public spaces...We just want them to do it in a safe way.” LISTEN NOW: How Chicago is Responding to Teen Takeovers, our latest episode of Streets, Beatz & Peace Podcast with Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Executive Director Vaughn Bryant and Chicago Police Department Director of Community Policing Glen Brooks.

LISTEN: Streets, Beatz & Peace Podcast Explores Chicago ‘Teen Trends’ with MPI Executive Director Vaughn Bryant and CPD Director of Community Policing Glen Brooks - Metropolitan Peace Initiatives The Streets, Beatz & Peace Podcast is back with a special edition episode focusing on the recent rise of “teen trends,” and how Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations collaborate with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to make our streets safer this summer.

"The difference between life and death is often measured in minutes of transport time and the presence or absence of a Level 1 trauma bay" 'After Historic Drop in Homicides, Chicago Sees Shooting Surge — Study Reveals Impact of Trauma Care Access'

After Historic Drop in Homicides, Chicago Sees Shooting Surge — Study Reveals Impact of Trauma Care Access Through the first four months of 2026, Chicago recorded 130 homicides — up from 120 during the same period in 2025 — and 421 total shootings, a 5% increase over last year's pace.

"While shootings have declined from their peak in 2021, the South and West Sides are still struggling with everyday violence, and some parts are seeing their numbers creep up." 'Some Chicagoans Worry the Urgency Around Violence Is Fading — Even as Shootings Are Ticking Up in Certain Neighborhoods' via The Trace //www.thetrace.org/2026/06/chicago-gun-violence-south-west-side/

Some Chicagoans Worry the Urgency Around Violence Is Fading — Even as Shootings Are Ticking Up in Certain Neighborhoods chicago gun violence

We're so excited for the Metropolitan Peace Academy Spring 2026 Graduation this Thursday! Our keynote speaker is Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Andre and we have Zion Ali Music as our musical guest.

“Instead of reacting to violence or crime, our office is thinking about what it looks like to be proactive and create initiatives that will address those root causes...” 'Lake County Peacemakers Join Metropolitan Peace Academy for Transformative Violence Intervention Training and Collaboration'

Lake County Peacemakers Join Metropolitan Peace Academy for Transformative Violence Intervention Training and Collaboration - Metropolitan Peace Initiatives A recent collaboration with the Lake County Peacemakers has been underway at the Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA), bringing county violence interrupters to the Pilsen training facility to share with and learn from Chicago’s Community Violence Intervention (CVI) network.

“We want to offer services to everyone. We don’t want to marginalize and demonize people even further.” ' Community Violence Intervention Activation Training Informs Community Members on License-to-Operate, Neighborhood Engagement'

Community Violence Intervention Activation Training Informs Community Members on License-to-Operate, Neighborhood Engagement - Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Leaders from Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) recently partnered with community-led collective “We Are Our Own Medicine” to host a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Activation Training, bringing together community members from various organizations to learn about engaging local CVI grou...

'Teen takeover listening session held in Chicago as alderperson warns of more planned gatherings'

Teen takeover listening session held in Chicago as alderperson warns of more planned gatherings As more so-called teen takeovers could be planned in Chicago this week, the concern over the gatherings seemed to be split in a South Side room, literally, on Tuesday night.

: We are celebrating the 2026 Peace Portraits honorees, leaders making real change through peacebuilding across Illinois. This week's featured honoree is Luis Bahena, whose work is helping build safer, stronger communities. Their work saves lives, and they need all of us to keep it going. Follow Illinois Peace Project to learn more. https://metropolitanpeaceinitiatives.org/meet-2026-peace-portraits-honoree-luis-bahena/