Charge to the Task Force
In February 2022, the Violence Reduction Task Force was charged with:
Existing Efforts to Reduce Violence
Some of the existing efforts reviewed by the Task Force include:
- Cure Violence Philadelphia and Philadelphia CeaseFire, two (grant-funded) portfolios consisting of an array of programs focused on strengthening anti-violence social norms and providing trauma-informed support for individuals exposed to violence
- Inside-Out Prison Exchange education program creates opportunities for people inside and outside of prison to have transformative learning experiences together
- Temple Hospital’s Cradle to Grave, a violence prevention program offering young people a behind-the-scenes look into the physical, emotional, and social realities of firearm injury
- Temple University Victim Advocates program provides medical and emotional support to victims of violent crimes in the emergency department and links them to community-based services
- Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative’s efforts to mitigate financial stress through job training and placement and the city’s largest job fair
- North Central Special Services District, which addresses the physical environment (e.g., trash removal)
- Temple Campus Safety Urban Bike Club teaches, engages, and provides free bicycles to youth in the neighborhoods around Temple
Key Recommendations
After evaluating the existing efforts on campus, reviewing literature on violence reduction strategies, and interviewing leadership at other large urban institutions to understand their experiences, the Task Force carefully crafted a set of recommendations for the university to move towards a more integrated approach to creating safer spaces. The following is a summary of the key recommendations:
Officer Capacity and Rapport
Increase sworn officers, build student and community rapport, new mental health crisis training, and expanded hours for walking escorts and shuttle services.
Increase Technology
Increase the use of cameras, license plate readers, and Code Blue phones to track criminal activity and deter future criminal activity.
Improve Communications
Improve awareness of existing efforts, enhance campus safety website and increase transparency.
Community Engagement
Develop a strategy to coordinate community engagement efforts, including inventory, promotion and support of initiatives and organizations.
Citywide Collaboration
Develop a citywide collaboration with other businesses and institutions of higher education.
Systematic Evaluation
Ensure that systematic evaluation underlies all violence reduction efforts.
Advisory Board
Establish an advisory board to continue to provide support for the university’s violence reduction efforts.
Funding Plan
Develop a plan for sustained funding for violence reduction efforts
The recommendations from the Task Force are just a starting point to guide Temple University as it works to reduce violence in North Philadelphia. We must be committed to listening to our students, staff, faculty, and community members as we implement new activities and learn from our evaluations. Together, we can reduce violence in our communities and restore a sense of greater safety for everyone.
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Learn MoreExecutive Sponsors
- Valerie Harrison, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Gregory Mandel, Provost and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Law
Chair
- Jennifer Ibrahim, College of Public Health
Faculty
- Quaiser Abdullah, Communication and Social Influence, Klein College of Media and Communication
- Maia Cucchiara, Teaching and Learning, College of Education and Human Development
- Caterina Roman, Criminal Justice, College of Liberal Arts
- Krista Schroeder, Nursing, College of Public Health
- Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, School of Theater, Film and Media Arts and president, Faculty Senate
- Celeste Winston, Geography and Urban Studies, College of Liberal Arts
Staff
- Shawn Abbott, Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment Management
- Marla Davis Bellamy, Philadelphia Ceasefire, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
- Scott Charles, Temple University Health System
- Olan Garrett, Student Affairs
- Charles Leone, Campus Safety Services
- Shirley Moy, North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative
Students
- Nash Baria, Political Science, College of Liberal Arts
- Joju Somoye, Health Professions, College of Public Health
- Bradley Smutek, History, College of Liberal Arts and president, Temple Student Government
- Gabrielle Spence, Criminal Justice, College of Liberal Arts
Parents
- Karla Brown, parent of 2022 student
- Ken Giunta, parent of 2024 student
Community Members
- John Athanasiadis
- Greg Bonaparte
- Jewell Williams