CDP Recognized by Mayor Stoney for “We Matter” Gun Violence Prevention Initiative

Along with community partners, CDP was recognized by Mayor Stoney for the transformative impact of the We Matter Gun Violence Prevention Initiative. A partnership with Communities in Schools, ChildSavers, and Richmond City Parks and Recreation, We Matter serves students enrolled at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and has expanded to include a new cohort at River City Middle School this year.

We Matter is a component of a city-wide investment in quality out-of-school programs; collectively, these programs have led to a 64% decrease in youth shot as well as a 40% reduction in youth involved in violent incidents from 2017 to 2023; furthermore, "We Matter" has also played a contributing role in decreasing chronic absenteeism among Richmond Public School students by 20% since 2021 (Source).