Having a team of people with different experiences, roles, and ways of thinking is essential to preventing youth violence. A diverse team working together can help provide the insights, information, resources, and access you’ll need to accomplish your goals.
The first step is to figure out if a team already exists, in which case, you can join them. But if a team doesn’t exist, you’ll want to create one. Think about who is committed to violence prevention and making neighborhoods safer. Talk with them about what you have in mind. And, make sure to talk with youth in the community. They will probably have a different viewpoint than the adults, and that perspective can be vital to your work!
As you look at your team, think about who might be missing. Someone from the schools? Community members? Youth? If they aren’t part of the team now, perhaps they’ve never been asked to join the discussion. Think about who could add a valuable perspective and set of experiences and consider asking that person or organization to join.
“That sense of community and connection makes you feel like you are contributing to a larger conversation regionally and that type of collaboration is really rare.”
–Rebecca, Program Director (Portland)
In the box below, you can enter your team’s name and add team members. When you add a new participant, use the drop-down menu labeled “Organization Type” to select each identified participant’s area of expertise in the community. The “Organization Type” might also give you ideas for other groups to approach.
Learn more from communities about how they came together to work on youth violence prevention.