COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION WORKERS REPRESENT COMMUNITY AND SAFETY

Community Violence Intervention (also known as CVI), a community-led approach to safety, is an essential part of the violence prevention work CYS is involved in. “CVIs are members of an affected community who are committed to promoting peace and safety and trained to leverage their relationships and engage those at highest risk of involvement in violence to prevent potential injury or death". (1) 

Arturo Rosales, a CVI worker with Southern California Crossroads, shares that a key part of, “preventing violence starts with information—knowing when something is brewing between neighborhoods or individuals gives us a chance to step in early. As a Community Violence Interventionist (CVI), I’ve learned how critical it is to recognize the warning signs, especially when working with youth. Tension can build fast, but if we catch it early, we can mediate before things escalate into a fight or worse.” 

It is reported that "emergency departments treat over 800 people for physical assault-related injuries each day." (2) This staggering number highlights the urgent need for proactive, community-based responses to violence. 

Another key part of CVI work is something called a “License to Operate”. “In this line of work, having a “License to Operate” isn’t a piece of paper—it’s earned through consistency and trust,” Rosales explained. “You gain it by showing up, again and again. Recently, I helped serve food to over 200 people at a park barbecue. That event wasn’t just about food—it was about community.” 

Rosales also explains the importance of CVI work after tragedy, “One of the most powerful moments in my work was helping a student who had recently been shot. I worked closely with the family, helping them plan the funeral and connecting them with the resources they needed afterward. I attended the funeral, and over time, I built a strong, trusting relationship with the family. That connection reminded me how important our presence is—not just in moments of crisis, but in the days that follow.” 

CVIs build strong relationships with individuals and connect them to life-saving services, support for trauma, and growth opportunities. Thank you to Arturo and all of the CVI leaders like him for stepping up, for creating safe spaces, and for giving our youth a mentor they can depend on.