President Donald Trump’s cuts to federal funding are severely impacting violence prevention efforts in Cleveland as the city braces for its most dangerous months. Nonprofits like the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance and the Brenda Glass Trauma Recovery Center have had to reduce staff and services, losing approximately $1.7 million in grant funding that was crucial for maintaining their safety programs during the spike in gun violence seen each summer.
The fallout from the funding cuts is already evident, with both organizations reporting layoffs and diminished outreach capabilities just as violent incidents surge. Following a recent East Side shootout that left one dead and five injured, Community Based Public Safety Collective provided a $75,000 grant, but local leaders stress that this is a fraction of what is needed to prevent further violence. “There’s no organization investing the amount that was lost,” said Myesha Watkins, executive director of the Peacemakers Alliance.
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