The ShotStoppers program has become a lifeline for neighborhoods too often defined by crime and despair. What started in 2023 as a $10 million initiative funded by federal pandemic relief dollars has produced a clear, measurable reduction in violent crime. Community organizations, working directly with those most at risk, have driven down non-fatal shootings and homicides in ways that city-led approaches alone had not achieved. But as 2025 begins, the program’s future hangs in the balance, jeopardized by political inaction and shifting legislative priorities.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan lauded the efforts of ShotStoppers during a recent press conference, linking the initiative to a 19% drop in criminal homicides and a 25% decline in non-fatal shootings in 2024. These reductions, while noteworthy, come with a stark reminder: Detroit’s population today is far smaller than it was in 1965, the last time homicides were this low. The progress underscores the importance of maintaining momentum, but without secure funding, that progress could unravel.
A bill that aimed to create a long-term public safety trust fund failed to pass in Michigan’s Democrat-led Legislature last year. Duggan expressed cautious optimism, citing Republican House Speaker Matt Hall’s apparent support for revisiting the proposal. But others, like Detroit City Council President Pro Tem James Tate, see the missed opportunity as a significant setback.
“There were some key things that, as municipal elected officials, we wanted to see done,” said Tate. “We were very vocal about the public safety trust fund. No one wanted to see that go down. Hopefully, Matt Hall keeps his promise … but what does it look like then? It’s got to go through the Senate. Does that bill remain the same?”
Duggan has credited ShotStoppers and similar community-driven strategies as essential complements to Detroit’s broader public safety measures, which include initiatives like Project Green Light and gunshot detection systems. However, those tools don’t replace the boots-on-the-ground work of organizations like FORCE Detroit. The organization, which has posted significant crime reductions in neighborhoods such as Warrendale Cody Rouge, represents what’s possible when local leaders are empowered to address violence at its roots.
Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy, a Detroit native and formerly incarcerated activist, stepped into leadership at FORCE Detroit following the departure of its founder, Alia Harvey Quinn. Quinn, described as a visionary by FORCE Detroit Board President Racheal Allen, built a model of success that other cities now look to emulate. Under her leadership, gun violence in targeted neighborhoods declined by as much as 72%.
“Because of Alia’s laser-focused leadership and vision, FORCE Detroit has exemplified local, state, and national leadership, showing how one organization can be the example of successful leadership in a Community Violence Intervention system for a city, while also uplifting partner organizations by securing funding to fully staff and grow programs citywide,” Allen said. “Neighborhoods in the city of Detroit are stronger because of this work, and organizations nationwide can look to FORCE Detroit as a guide.”
Kennedy, who credits Quinn with mentoring him after his release from prison, spoke passionately about the need for consistent investment in community violence intervention programs. “We’ve been successful because metrics have been developed to measure our work and give us credit,” he said. “We’ve been successful because we’ve been acknowledged. We’ve been successful because we’ve been funded, and all that is at risk. It is. We were funded for two years, and this is the last year.”
Kennedy’s journey from incarceration to leadership reflects the transformative power of such programs. Having served 14 years in prison, he understands better than most what drives young people toward violence and what can steer them away. His ability to relate to those he now mentors stems directly from his own lived experiences.
“These reductions are happening because individuals want more for their life, and it hasn’t been available, and they haven’t had access,” Kennedy said. “Once you give people access to alternatives, they take that. I got out of prison and took it.”
But the uncertainty surrounding funding threatens to undermine the progress that organizations like FORCE Detroit have made. Kennedy argues that community violence intervention programs should be considered essential government expenses, just as police departments are. Without secure and permanent funding, the trust and progress built in communities are at risk of collapse.
“Our work needs to be funded in perpetuity so we can continue to build our community and redeem ourselves,” Kennedy emphasized.
The data supports his argument. Detroit recorded 203 homicides in 2024, the fewest since 1965. Non-fatal shootings dropped nearly 50% from 2022 levels, and carjackings were down 15%. While these figures offer hope, they also highlight the fragility of the progress made.
Kennedy’s leadership, alongside the foundation laid by Quinn, has shown what’s possible when community voices are not only heard but empowered. Yet, as Lansing continues to grapple with political gridlock, the question remains: Will Michigan’s leaders prioritize the safety and well-being of Detroit’s communities, or will they allow the momentum to falter?
For now, Detroit’s community violence intervention advocates remain resolute. They’ve proven that their strategies work, that lives can be saved, and that entire neighborhoods can be transformed. But they can’t do it alone. The investments made over the past two years must not only be maintained but expanded if Detroit is to build on its progress and truly realize a safer, more equitable future.
“We’ve shown what we can do when given the resources,” Kennedy said. “Now it’s up to those in power to decide if they’ll help us continue to build on this foundation or let it crumble.”
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