Preventing and Disrupting Violence for a Safer Chicago with Arne Duncan and Curtis Toler
Arne Duncan and Curtis Toler
“Violence is the manifestation of 400 years of racism, redlining, disinvestment, lack of access to good jobs, capital, resources, health care, and food.”
Arne Duncan and Curtis Toler are building a stronger and safer Chicago through their work at Chicago CRED. The organization works to reduce gun violence in Chicago through four approaches: street outreach, coaching and counseling, workforce development, and advocacy and prevention. Many of the members of the Chicago CRED team come from the same neighborhoods they work in. This is also true for Curtis Toler, a former street gang leader in Chicago, whose story about how he transitioned from gang member to mentor is featured in Amanda Ripley’s book High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out. Being a former street gang member, Toler relates and empathizes with the people he works with. From Toler’s perspective, the root cause of community violence is a combination of personal trauma and systemic racism. Likewise, Duncan believes violence is the manifestation of historical racism and trauma.
However, knowing these things does not discourage Duncan and Toler because they believe redemption is possible. Both Duncan and Toler acknowledge the best way to address community violence is to interact with those who are involved in community violence because they are not the problem, but the solution. Chicago CRED approaches violence prevention by asking communities what they need instead of telling them what they need. Unfortunately, not all stakeholders use this approach when addressing community needs. Urban planners are an example of this. Urban planners who have the power to shape outcomes in communities sometimes fail to realize that community members are the best urban planners.
By connecting directly with communities to determine their needs, allocating resources to communities facing violence, and investing in solutions that will reduce violence and not increase incarceration, Duncan and Toler are making Chicago safer with their work at Chicago CRED.