Boston — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has allocated approximately $1 million in grants to ten organizations as part of an initiative to combat gun violence through public health approaches. These funds, distributed under the Public Health Models for Gun Violence Prevention Grant, aim to support programs that are both evidence-based and culturally competent. The objective is to expand effective gun violence prevention strategies across various communities in the state.
Campbell emphasized the importance of community safety, stating, “Everyone deserves to live in a safe community free from the horrors of gun violence, and I’m proud to support these ten organizations doing the work to prevent gun violence across our state.”
Massachusetts records an average of 257 deaths and 648 injuries annually due to gun violence. The crisis affects Black individuals more severely, with statistics showing they are 4.1 times more likely than white individuals to die from gun violence. Additionally, over half of gun-related deaths in the state between 2019 and 2023 were suicides. Campbell’s program ties public health methods with public safety to reduce these numbers.
The recipients of the grant include organizations like Behavioral Health Network, which will use the funds to tackle the intersection between gun and domestic violence, and Boston Medical Center, which will collaborate with the Massachusetts Medical Society to create an educational platform for healthcare professionals.
Also noteworthy is Brockton Public Schools partnering with local entities to provide mental health support for students impacted by gun violence, and Making Opportunity Count in Fitchburg focusing on youth education through innovative methods.
Recognizing the pivotal role of education, the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and Open Sky Community Services also received grants to carry out educational and support initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of gun violence.
Other organizations, including Pa’lante Transformative Justice and Samaritans, will employ the funds to enhance youth and community support services. The We Are Better Together Warren Daniel Hairston Project will use its grant to relaunch a program educating young women about gun trafficking prevention.
Each organization can receive up to $100,000 for a period of up to 24 months. The grant program is overseen by the office’s Gun Violence Prevention Unit, headed by Nathan Gardner and Allison Beaufort.