Request for Committee Action

2025-00381 - Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park violence interrupters funding

2025-00299 - Contracts with multiple organizations for 2025 MinneapolUS services

Violence Interruption is a unique, interdisciplinary, public health approach to violence prevention and an adaptation of the Cure Violence Model (CVM). The philosophy of CVM maintains that violence is a learned behavior that can be prevented using disease control methods. MinneapolUS was initiated to operationalize a violence prevention model that includes building teams of violence interrupters and outreach workers to 1) detect potentially violent situations and use informal mediation, non-physical conflict resolution, and interruption expertise to de-escalate the situations before they become violent; and 2) address barriers and reduce risk by providing resource referrals to those who need them. The initiative complements the Department of Neighborhood Safety’s existing continuum of community-oriented violence prevention, intervention, and response.

The Consultant(s) will contract with or employ teams of Outreach Workers and Violence Interrupters, who will follow the comprehensive Cure Violence Model. These teams will be responsible for peacemaking, violence interruption, and community engagement. The teams will consist of credible messengers from the community, individuals familiar with the impacts of violence, and those with established relationships with residents and leaders. Outreach Workers and Violence Interrupters will employ informal mediation and non-physical conflict resolution strategies to prevent and de-escalate conflicts, particularly in identified violence hotspots. They will work to mobilize the community to reject violence through awareness-building initiatives, community gatherings, and peace walks, as well as provide referrals to services addressing barriers to safety. Their work will also focus on healing communities after incidents of violence to prevent retaliation and disrupt the cycle of violence. Coverage for the program will include a team of seven (7) deployed per shift, each shift lasting up to eight (8) hours, with approximately five (5) shifts per week. Teams will also work to change behavioral norms that support violence through public education and active community engagement. Continual data collection efforts will be implemented to assess program effectiveness and inform strategies.

A formal Request for Proposals (RFP), Event #0000003382, was issued on November 12, 2024, and closed on December 16, 2024. The department received a total of thirteen (13) proposals and initially awarded contracts to five (5) top scoring respondents: MADDADS, Restoration Inc., T.O.U.C.H. Outreach, A Mother’s Love Initiative, and Sabathani Community Center. These contracts were approved under Council Action number 2025A-0257 to establish for a one-year term from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, with the option to extend for up to two (2) additional years for the provision of 2025 MinneapolUS services.

During negotiations, MADDADS chose to forgo their award for Zone #5. As a result, the contract originally allocated to them has been reassigned to the top-scoring vendor with strong community ties in Zone #6; T.O.U.C.H Outreach. Although MADDADS was initially designated for Zone #5, available data shows that Zone #6 experiences a higher incident rate. Based on this, the department has awarded T.O.U.C.H. Outreach a second contract to serve Zone #6. Additionally, A Mother’s Love Initiative is being awarded a second contract to serve Zone #2, as a top-scoring vendor with established credibility and strong community connections in that zone in response to resolution 2025R-093. Per Resolution 2025R-090 and 2025A-0258, the department has awarded Metro Youth Diversion a contract for Zone 9 (Cedar Riverside) in response to Event #0000003382, as the next top-scoring responder with credible ties to the Cedar Riverside neighborhood.