Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Public Safety and Thomas Turco announced the release of $7.74 million, included in this amount is $1,559,014.18 for Boston and Brookline, in competitive Senator Charles E. Shannon Jr., Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) Grant Program funds to communities and local partners to bolster their efforts to combat gang violence.
The awards were made to 15 sites made up of 27 cities (see below) and 13 research partners through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative, which targets gang violence in the Commonwealth. With today’s announcement, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $33 million through the program since taking office.
“The Shannon Initiative is a successful program that allows the Commonwealth to partner with local communities and make a serious impact to prevent youth violence and gang activity,” said Gov. Baker. “We are pleased to announce today’s recipients and look forward to working with everyone involved on another successful year of continuing Senator Shannon’s legacy of improving the lives of young people all across Massachusetts.”
“Our municipal and local partners are on the front lines of combatting the gang violence that threatens the safety and well-being of everyone in their communities,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “It is our honor to partner with them and members of the Legislature to support a program that helps get young people back on track and makes our communities safer.”
“For the last 13 years, Shannon funding has allowed the Boston Police Department to decrease youth and gang violence in the City of Boston with the support of community based non-profit groups and city led initiatives,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross.
The grants provide funds to communities that demonstrate high levels of youth violence and gang problems, a comprehensive plan to work with multi-disciplinary partners and a commitment to coordinated prevention and intervention strategies. Funded strategies include social intervention and opportunity provision programs, as well as gang task force personnel costs and overtime.
The grant program is named after the late Sen. Charles E. Shannon of Winchester. Senator Shannon represented Massachusetts’ Second Middlesex district of Winchester, Woburn, Somerville and Medford from 1991 until his death in 2005 from leukemia. Prior to serving in the legislature, he had spent twenty years on the Lexington Police.
For 2019, the following municipalities and research partners were awarded a total of $7,741,913.
Shannon CSI Grant Sites:
• Lynn – $222,133.63
• Metro Mayors Coalition (incl. Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Winthrop) – $434,786.07
Local Action Research Partners (LARP):
• Clark University – $49,995.15
• Community Resources for Justice – $49,941.65
• Institute for Community Health – $49,970.00
• Kelley Research Associates- $45,540.00
• Northeastern University – $50,000.00
• North Shore Community College – $28,573.00
• Salem State University- $44,157.00
• Sean Varano $42,212.50
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst – $49,751.47
• University of Massachusetts, Boston – $50,000.00
• University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Haverhill/Methuen Site) – $29,709.61
• University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Lawrence Site) – $29,709.61
• University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Lowell Site) – $50,000.00