Jay Costa
01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 13:15
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Over $5 Million Violence Intervention Prevention Funding for the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA - January 16, 2025 - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $5,717,807 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) benefitting the 43rd district, encompassing parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
The purpose of VIP funding is to provide grants and technical assistance to address community violence throughout the Commonwealth. For the purpose of this funding announcement, 'community violence' is defined as intentional interpersonal violence (e.g., gun violence, group-related violence, domestic violence/intimate partner violence) in areas of Pennsylvania with high rates of firearm-related violent crime and/or firearm-related injury.
"I am so proud to announce these dollars, which will go towards keeping our friends and neighbors safe," said Senator Costa. "We know that when we invest in strong, vibrant community spaces and programming, we can reduce violence, improve lives, and build critical life skills among our young people. I look forward to seeing this funding to go good use in the 43rd district."
VIP Grants Awardees in the 43rd senatorial district are as follows:
- 1Hood Media was awarded $620,000 to expand and enhance their We Keep Us Safe (WKUS) media literacy and violence prevention program for young adults ages 16-26 impacted by community violence. WKUS promotes healthy and informed social media use, arts education engagement and sports activities, as well as safe, fun community service gatherings for youth through "Fridays on Deck" events.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh was awarded $900,000 to provide evidence-based youth mentoring programs at five schools in East Pittsburgh-Woodland Hills High School, Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy, and Propel Schools Braddock Hills Elementary, Middle, and High Schools-that share an area critically affected by gun violence.
- Carnegie Library of Homestead was awarded $582,666 to expand and enhance their Youth Development and Restorative Justice Program. Funds will be used to engage at-risk youth by providing restorative justice circles, educational workshops, and recreational activities to reduce violence and promote positive youth development.
- Homewood Children's Village was awarded $950,000 to support its Holistic Anti-Violence Education Network (HAVEN) program, which embeds violence prevention in community schools, trains parents and family members in anti-violence techniques, provides youth mentorship, and expands access to therapeutic services.
- Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc., was awarded $949,991 to expand its P4: 247 CommUNITY program, which provides culturally sensitive, trauma-informed interventions (mentoring and counseling) to youth/young adults and families impacted by gun violence within Allegheny and Beaver Counties.
- The Legacy Arts Project was awarded $434,840 to implement the expansion of the Drums Not Guns, which is a culturally enriching program to reduce gun violence and participation in gang activity.
- The University of Pittsburgh was awarded $949,856 to support expansion of the Empowering Teens to Thrive (ET3) hospital-based violence intervention program and community-based mentorship program for youth ages 12-25 injured or impacted by community violence.
- Youth Enrichment Services, Inc., was awarded $950,000 to enhance its youth-led peer engagement and violence prevention programming. Program components include the Fitness Fun Involving Sports and Health program, implementing youth-created Big Ideas for addressing gun violence, and scaling the annual Teen Violence Prevention Symposium.
From the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grant program, Early Excellence Project was awarded $235,446 to expand High Impact Tutoring Program to out-of-school time (OST) settings in the Southside of Pittsburgh.
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