DC Mayor Bowser awards 31 new grants aiming to prevent gun violence

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that $330,000 in mini-grants will be given to community-building individuals and nonprofits.

Officials said Wednesday that the grant, which is part of the Building Blocks DC program, aims to attack gun violence.

Data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indicated that 2023 was the deadliest year for gun violence in the District since 1997. There were 234 fatalities from gun violence last year.

Mayor Bowser highlights community-based programs aimed at reducing gun violence

According to MPD data, the rate of homicides with a gun this year has decreased by over 20% compared to this time last year. Analysis from AH Datalytics showed that all homicides across American cities have decreased as well.

While 2024 shows promising gains in D.C. and nationally, Bowser’s plan attempts to tackle the root of the issue. The Building Blocks DC program aims to combat gun violence by targeting communities from the ground up with “mini” and “mini-plus” grants worth $5,000 and $15,000.

“These grants are one way we support people who know our community and who know our young people and they are helping us build a safer, stronger DC,” Bowser said in a press release.

Golfing, book clubs, lifeguard training, and music therapy are not activities that come to mind when considering gun violence prevention — but organizations that promote recreational and community-building activities such as those are the ones Bowser is looking to reward.

A qualitative study from 2023 published in the National Journal of Medicine took an in-depth look at a New Haven, Ct. community, and found that “investments in stable housing, efforts to build social cohesion, access to community-based mental health services, and youth activities are needed to curb the drivers of community gun violence.”

2 men, 2 boys hurt in stabbings throughout the District

Bowser has been funding community-oriented programs — with a renewed focus on building conflict resolution skills — since she started the Building Blocks DC program in 2021.

Originally an Emergency Operations Center, Building Blocks DC has evolved into an integral part of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention permanently established in 2022.

“The Building Blocks DC grant program allows individuals who are often already doing the work in their communities with no financial support to have access to funding so they can further support our residents,” City Administrator Kevin Donahue said in a press release from another round of grants in 2023.

The next round of grant funding will be available in Summer 2024. For more information on the grants, visit www.buildingblocks.dc.gov/community-grants.

The full list of organizations that received funding:

• Counter Culture 2 summer camp

• Creating Safe Space

• DC Youth Theatre Ensemble

• GADC 1st Annual Cease Fire 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

• Guns Down Friday

• Hustler’s Guild

• JD Ellis and Associates LLC

• Life Guard Training & Job Placement

• Mute the Violence DC “ Do-Nut Give Up Workshop”

• NOMIS Boxing Academy Gun Prevention Cohort

• Open Goal Project

• Opportunities for Deserving Children

• ROCK Now

• SOAR Project

• The Healing Outlet

• The Language Key

• Trapp Stars Inc

• Youth ARTpowerment Zone

• Brown Boy Book Club

• Distinguished Man Youth Brunch

• Everyone Matters

• Expect Respect

• Focus On Me

• Get Her to the Bag Academy

• LAYC Community Re-Imaging Day

• Life Reign

• MORE Fun, Less Guns

• Music Therapy for Tyler Elementary Students

• PEACE: Parents Empowered to Advocate with Children for a Civil Environment

• Shoot for Safety!

• The Dough It Together

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