The Center for Structural Equity is a Wilmington, Delaware-based nonprofit with a primary focus on crime and gun violence. ¹ In January 2023, the group participated in a rally to protest gun violence where a group called for a requirement to obtain a permit to buy a gun in Delaware. ²

In September 2023, the group received a $100,000 donation from the anti-gun group Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to support its work. ³

Background

Darryl “Wolfie” Chambers founded The Center for Structural Equity in 2020, which evolved from the Wilmington Street PAR Project and the Community Intervention Team. ⁴

The group operates on what it calls a “structural violence” framework, which argues that challenges faced by low-income minority communities are the result of structural violence and not individual shortcomings. The group defines “structural violence” as “a form of inequity where some social structure or institution causes harm by preventing people from meeting their basic needs (including, but not limited to, access to adequate education, safe and affordable housing, violence free communities, healthy food and livable wages).” ⁴

COVID Vaccine Outreach

In April 2021, the Center For Structural Equity took part in a Delaware state government program to encourage African-American Delawareans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The group made literature drops and invited people to attend vaccination events with vouchers. ⁵

The group used data which showed which neighborhoods were hesitant to get the vaccine. The group then worked with community leaders and social information hubs such as barber shops, libraries, street corners, and other areas where people of color met and distributed information. ⁵

Gun Violence

In May 2021, the Center for Structural Equity received a grant from the Wilmington City Council to fight gun violence. ¹

In September 2021, the Center For Structural Equity supported proposed legislation by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), which would have provided more funding for mental health services for survivors of gun violence. The legislation, called the Preventing and Addressing Trauma with Health Services (PATHS) Act, would have provided $100 million every year for five years to groups working on gun violence. ⁶

In January 2023, the group took part in a rally against gun violence where one of participant groups, the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence, called for a mandatory permit to buy a gun in Delaware. ²

Participation In Anti-Drug Program

In September 2022, the Center For Structural Equity partnered with the Delaware state government to join the Community Well-Being Initiative, which provided services to opioid users and those suffering from other behavioral health issues. ⁷

Leadership

The Center For Structural Equity’s executive director is Darryl “Wolfie” Chambers. ⁸ Chambers was previously incarcerated for ten years. ⁹

Finances

According to the Center For Structural Equity’s 2022 tax filings, the group had $418,492 in revenue, $1,037,235 in expenses, and $222,906 in assets. ¹⁰

In September 2023, the Center For Structural Equity received a $100,000 grant from the anti-gun group Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. ³

In the fall of 2022, the group accepted a $25,000 grant from the Laffey-McHugh Foundation. ¹¹

The group is also funded by Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, the Wilmington City Council, the Wilmington Alliance, the Longwood Foundation, the Delaware Community Foundation, the Wilmington Office of the Mayor, the Wilmington Office of the Lt. Governor, the United Way of Delaware, and the New Castle County Executive Office. ¹²

1. Schmidt, Sophia. “Wilmington City Council Puts Money toward Grassroots Solutions to Gun Violence.” Delaware Public Media, May 13, 2021. https://www.delawarepublic.org/delaware-headlines/2021-05-13/wilmington-city-council-puts-money-toward-grassroots-solutions-to-gun-violence.
2. Sawicki, Rachel. “Advocates Gather in Wilmington to Rally against Gun Violence.” Delaware Public Media, January 10, 2023. https://www.delawarepublic.org/delaware-headlines/2023-01-10/advocates-gather-in-wilmington-to-rally-against-gun-violence.
3. “The Center for Structural Equity Awarded $100,000 Grant from the Everytown Community Safety Fund to Sustain Critical Gun Violence Prevention Work in Wilmington.” Everytown, September 14, 2023. https://www.everytown.org/press/the-center-for-structural-equity-awarded-100000-grant-from-the-everytown-community-safety-fund-to-sustain-critical-gun-violence-prevention-work-in-wilmington/.
4. “Our Story.” Center for Structural Equity. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.structuralequity.org/ourstory-1.
5. Schmidt, Sophia. “State Focuses on Providing Vaccine Information to Communities of Color.” Delaware Public Media, April 6, 2021. https://www.delawarepublic.org/science-health-tech/2021-04-06/state-focuses-on-providing-vaccine-information-to-communities-of-color.
6. “Sens. Coons, Booker, Durbin Introduce Legislation Funding Mental Health Services for Communities Impacted by Gun Violence.” U.S. senator Christopher Coons of Delaware, September 28, 2021. https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-booker-durbin-introduce-legislation-funding-mental-health-services-for-communities-impacted-by-gun-violence
7. “DHSS to Expand Community Well-Being Initiative to Kent County.” State of Delaware, September 19, 2022. https://news.delaware.gov/2022/09/19/dhss-to-expand-community-well-being-initiative-to-kent-county/.
8. “Meet Our Team.” Center for Structural Equity. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.structuralequity.org/meet-our-team.
9. Taylor, Michelle A. “The Hope Commission: A Response to the Responsible Parties.” The News Journal, August 19, 2016. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/08/19/hope-commission-response-responsible-parties/89001318/.
10. “Center for Structural Equity, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/845026978/202322419349301112/full.
11. “Center for Structural Equity: Laffey-McHugh Foundation.” Laffey. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://laffeymchugh.org/grants/center-structural-equity.
12. “Our Partners.” Center for Structural Equity. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.structuralequity.org/ourpartners-1.