Association House Teams Up with Community Partners to Reduce Violence Across Chicago

ALSO outreach workers hosting a block party to connect individuals with resources that empower them to thrive.

Association House has always fought violence with opportunity — opening doors to education, careers, and community support. Now, as a founding partner in the SC2 Humboldt Park Collaborative, we’re taking that work to the next level, building a safer Chicago through direct, compassionate intervention in our neighborhood.

This year, the nation’s eyes were on Chicago. And this summer we saw the lowest number of homicides since 1965, and violent crime overall was down 22% from last year. This is due in no small part to the efforts of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) groups across Chicago: thousands of trained disruptors working to put at-risk youth on a brighter path, detach from local gangs, and stop violence before it starts.

The success of CVI efforts resulted in the creation of the Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago Initiative (SC2): a network of community support organizations all working together to address the root causes of violent crime and maximize support options for those ready to leave the streets and make a change.

Each participant’s journey starts with street outreach, connecting with case workers at pop-up cookouts, block parties, and info tables. From there, SC2 provides the tools for every individual to be the architect of their own future.

Outreach workers from NewLife Centers connect with individuals in need across Chicago.

With inroads to steady employment, continued education, mental health counseling, legal services and more, each journey with SC2 is designed to fit the needs of the individual—fulfilled by free services offered by over a dozen community support organizations working collaboratively.

Association House is proud to be taking on the challenge as a key SC2 partner, connecting participants to our job training programs, counseling services, alternative high school and more. In 2026, we’re mobilizing to take SC2 to the next level, advancing the groundwork laid by our case workers through social media outreach, donor engagement, and a hands-on internship for SC2 participants hoping to break into a career in marketing.

“For the first time in decades, I’m not worried about the police kicking in the door or losing sleep over the choices I’m making. I’m so far from that now — and that’s a relief I can’t even describe.” -Ramsey, SC2 Participant

Lori Crowder, Executive Director of ALSO, states, “Association House and its partners—ALSO, BUILD Inc, CCFJ and New Life Centers - are working hand in hand to redesign how services are delivered in Humboldt Park and reach over 1,300 high risk people over 5 years. Together, we’re proving that safety doesn’t begin with policing—it begins with opportunity, connection, and care.”

The momentum behind SC2 is not just about reducing violence, but about rebuilding trust and restoring hope in neighborhoods long denied both. As this work grows, Association House and our partners will continue standing beside every participant ready to rewrite their story—and redefine what’s possible for Chicago. ■

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Discover more about SC2 at www.scalecvichicago.org.