Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Cure Violence Global (CVG)

Location:

Chicago, IL
Tax ID:

82-3471223
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $3,693,881
Expenses: $4,330,137
Assets: $1,386,323
Founded:

2017 1

References

  1. “Cure Violence Global.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cure-violence-global,823471223/

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Cure Violence Global (CVG) is an organization that uses disease-control methods to analyze violent crime and argues violence should be conceived of as a disease or epidemic and treated as such. 1

Dr. Gary Slutkin, M.D., the former head of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Intervention Development Unit founded the “Cure Violence Global” model in 1995 2 It operates in more than 20 U.S. cities and in jurisdictions in 16 countries. 3 4 However, studies have been at best mixed on the success of the approach to stopping crime. 5

Background

Cure Violence Global is an organization that uses public health program models and disease-control methods to address violent crime. The organization argues that violence should be treated as a disease or epidemic. 6

Cure Violence Global says it focuses on detecting and interrupting conflicts, identifying the highest risk individuals, and attempting to change social norms. 7 CVG uses the rhetoric of disease fighting when it writes about stopping crime. It claims to  change the behaviors of the “highest potential transmitters” and claims it works to change the behavior of what it identifies as “those at highest risk for violence.” 8

CVG seeks to change behaviors by hiring members of communities who have had similar life experiences to the people designated as at the highest risk of committing acts of violence, such as former gang members. The staff is trained the same way community health workers would be trained. 9 The staff focus on preventing retaliations, which are common when shootings occur, and try to mediate ongoing conflicts. 10

The organization affirms that diversity, equity and inclusion are important to its mission because, in its words, “We recognize that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), as well as queer (LGBTQ+), disabled, and otherwise marginalized communities are more likely to experience violence as a result of systemic injustice.” 11

History

Gary Slutkin, M.D., the former head of the World Health Organization’s Intervention Development Unit, created the “Cure Violence Global” model in 1995 and launched it in West Garfield Park, one of the most violent communities in Chicago, Illinois. After the first year, the shootings in the community dropped by 67 percent, according to CVG. 12

Cure Violence Global focused on the United States from 2000 to 2008, and began working with the “sites” of  Baltimore, New York, New Orleans, Oakland, the Puerto Rican municipality of Loiza, and others. 13 In 2008, the organization expanded abroad into Iraq, with Basra and Sadr City; into to Canada with Halifax and Alberta; into Mexico with Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City; into the United Kingdom with London; into South Africa with Hanover Park; into Syria in the western and northern regions; into Colombia with Cali; into El Salvador with San Salvador and San Pedro Mazawal; into  Honduras with San Pedro Sula; into Jamaica with St. Catherine North and St. James; into Kenya with Nairobi and Rift valley; and into Trinidad & Tobago with the Port of Spain. 14

CVG says it operates in 16 countries on 5 continents. 15

As of 2022, CVG reports that it partners with the following local governments in the United States: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Chester, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Georgia; Des Moines, Iowa; Durham, North Carolina; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Greensboro, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Kansas City, Mississippi; Louisville, Kentucky;  Memphis (Shelby County), Tennessee;  Milwaukee, Wisconsin; New York City, New York; Omaha, Nebraska; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania; San Antonio, Texas; St. Louis, MO; Washington, D.C.;  and Wilmington, North Carolina. 16

Outcomes

Cure Violence Global claims that some jurisdictions had up to 70 percent reductions in firearm-related incidents because of what they call “violence interrupters.” It says in other jurisdictions, almost all retaliation events were eliminated. 17

However, outside studies of the effectiveness of the methods of CVG and similar organizations, such as the “violence interrupters method,” determined that evidence is weak, according to the left-leaning Vox. A 2020 John Jay College study examined various alternatives to police and determined the evidence base for interrupters was “promising but mixed.” A 2015 aggregate review of research in the Annual Reviews of Public Health across several cities determined none of the studies found reductions in gun violence, and a program in Pittsburgh was linked to “an increase in rates of monthly aggravated assaults and gun assaults.” A 2009 study of Chicago’s program found positive effects on four of seven neighborhoods. However, these areas barely performed any better than areas without “interrupters.” 18

President Joe Biden’s administration says the CVG method is an “evidence-based model” and the Justice Department committed to directing new funds and resources to violence interrupters in similar programs. 19

In June 2009, then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called CVG a “rational, data-driven, evidence-based, and smart approach to crime.” 20

Leadership

Fredrick L. Echols is the CEO of Cure Violence Global. Echols claimed crime has risen in 2021 and 2022 because pent-up frustration from the COVID-19 lockdown, which he said hit beleaguered communities the hardest. 21 He was previously Health Commissioner for the city government of St. Louis, Missouri. Echols was forced out of his job as health commissioner in St. Louis for unspecified reasons. 22 Before that, he was director of Communicable Disease, Emergency Preparedness, Vector and Veterinary Programs for the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. 23

Karen Volker is the executive vice president for CVG. Previously she worked 26 years at the U.S. Department of State as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. 24

Daria Zvetina is CVG’s chief of staff. Zvetina was Cure Violence’s former director of strategy and grants. Previously, she spent more than 20 years as an independent consultant. 25

R. Brent Decker if the chief program officer for CVG. He previously worked for “social justice” and community health projects in Latin America. 26

References

  1. “Cure Violence Global.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cure-violence-global,823471223/
  2. “Cure Violence Global History.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#history
  3. “Cure Violence Global History.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#history
  4. “Cure Violence Global.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/cure-violence/about/
  5.  Lopez, German. “The evidence for violence interrupters doesn’t support the hype.” Vox. September 3, 2021. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.vox.com/22622363/police-violence-interrupters-cure-violence-research-study
  6.  “Cure Violence Global.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cure-violence-global,823471223/
  7. “Cure Violence Global.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/cure-violence/about/
  8.  “Cure Violence.” Grand Rapids, Michigan Programs. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Programs-and-Initiatives/Cure-Violence
  9.  “What We Do.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/what-we-do/
  10. “What We Do.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/what-we-do/
  11. “About.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/
  12. “Cure Violence Global History.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#history
  13. “Cure Violence Global History.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#history
  14. “Cure Violence Global History.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#history
  15.  “Cure Violence Global.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/cure-violence/about/
  16. “Where We Work.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/where-we-work/#uscanada
  17. Schoenheider, John. “Finding a ‘cure’: International anti-violence program could come to Peoria.” 25 News Now. October 3, 2022. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.25newsnow.com/2022/10/03/finding-cure-international-anti-violence-program-could-come-peoria/
  18. Lopez, German. “The evidence for violence interrupters doesn’t support the hype.” Vox. September 3, 2021. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.vox.com/22622363/police-violence-interrupters-cure-violence-research-study
  19. Anderson, Natalie. “Greensboro residents talk success of ‘cure violence’ model as councilman Smith works to bring efforts to Salisbury.” Salisbury Post. March 17, 2022. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.salisburypost.com/2022/03/17/greensboro-residents-talk-success-of-cure-violence-model-as-councilman-smith-works-to-bring-efforts-to-salisbury/
  20. “Attorney General Eric Holder Remarks.” White House Conference on Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control. August 24, 2009. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-eric-holder-white-house-conference-gang-violence-prevention-and-crime
  21. Davis, Elliot. “New CEO of Cure Violence blames pandemic for uptick in crime.” Fox 2 Now. May 22, 2022. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://fox2now.com/news/you-paid-for-it/new-ceo-of-cure-violence-blames-pandemic-for-uptick-in-crime/
  22. Davis, Elliot. “New CEO of Cure Violence blames pandemic for uptick in crime.” Fox 2 Now. May 22, 2022. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://fox2now.com/news/you-paid-for-it/new-ceo-of-cure-violence-blames-pandemic-for-uptick-in-crime/
  23. “CVG Staff.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#staff
  24. “CVG Staff.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#staff
  25. “CVG Staff.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#staff
  26. “CVG Staff.” Cure Violence Global. Accessed October 22, 2022. https://cvg.org/about/#staff
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: April 1, 2019

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $3,693,881 $4,330,137 $1,386,323 $1,283,420 N $2,041,915 $1,634,626 $0 $25,000
    2019 Dec Form 990 $3,153,425 $2,562,742 $1,934,132 $997,433 N $2,234,801 $918,624 $0 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $372,945 $26,929 $366,662 $20,646 N $372,945 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Cure Violence Global (CVG)

    227 West Monroe St Suite 1025
    Chicago, IL 60606