crime reduction strategy

HPCAV Receives FBI Award

December 19, 2014 by Connie Lawson

HPCAV was honored to receive the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2014 at a presentation on November 20, 2014. Deron W. Roberts, FBI Special Agent in Charge from the Charlotte, NC office made the presentation to Jim Summey, HPCAV Executive Director and Gretta Bush, HPCAV Board president.

HPCAV was selected from nominations throughout NC. Members of the organization will travel to Washington, DC in May, 2015 for the official presentation ceremony, joining winning community organizations from other states.

HPCAV members with FBI Agent Roberts.

Filed Under: High Point, News, State & National Tagged With: Community Against Violence, Community Support, crime reduction strategy, FBI, FBI Community Award, High Point, HPCAV success, safecommunities

HPCAV Donor Recognized

October 22, 2014 by Connie Lawson

On October 16, 2014, the office of the United States Attorney, Middle District of North Carolina, recognized Mr. Zaki Khalifa for the donation of the building at 792 North Main Street in High Point for use by High Point Community Against Violence, Inc. (HPCAV).

The presentation was made on behalf of Ripley Rand, U.S. Attorney by Rob Lang, Assistant U.S. Attorney and original member of High Point’s crime reduction strategy task force. “Thank you for the example you set,” said Lang as he reflected on what the building has meant to High Point’s efforts to reduce violent crime.

In sharing a bit about why he donated the building, Mr. Khalif stated that as a result of some introspection, he had asked himself, “Is there something I can do to prevent crime by someone else? It was in that spirit that I donated the building.”

Mr. Khalifa is a widely respected and long time resident of High Point. He is well known as the founder and owner of Zaki Oriental Rugs and has been active in many community efforts.

The building provides HPCAV with permanent office space and serves as as a location for related prevention and intervention programs. Included is the Life Construction Program that teaches construction skills and provides hands on learning opportunities in a workshop in the back of the building.

Filed Under: High Point, News, State & National Tagged With: Community Against Violence, Community Support, crime reduction strategy, High Point, Life Construction, safecommunities, Zaki Khalifa

HPCAV Receives United Way Venture Grant

June 30, 2014 by Connie Lawson

High Point Community Against Violence (HPCAV) was awarded $8250 through the United Way of Greater High Point Venture Grant Program on June 24, 2014. Thirty-four organizations applied and HPCAV was one of eight to receive funding. Jim Summey, Executive Director and Ed Kimsey, creator of the Life Construction Program accepted the award. The funding will be used in the Life Construction Program to assist with materials costs as well as pay participants a stipend for their work.

The Life Construction Program (LCP) teaches participants marketable construction-related skills while helping them develop a stronger work ethic, improve their decision making skills and provide on-going support as they work to change the direction of their lives. The Program has built and installed custom cabinetry for a number of customers and upfitted a local tattoo parlor, again providing custom built cabinetry in addition to electrical and painting work. The Carpentry Training Program (a part of LCP) also works with Community Development & Housing, City of High Point to provide home repairs to needy residents.

For more information about the Life Construction Program, contact HPCAV.

For more information about the Venture Grant Program, contact the United Way of Greater High Point.

Filed Under: High Point, News, Partners Tagged With: Community Against Violence, Community Support, construction, crime reduction strategy, High Point, HPCAV success, Life Construction, United Way of Greater High Point, Venture Grant

Summey Named Senior Fellow

February 26, 2014 by Connie Lawson

Jim Summey, D. D., Executive Director of High Point Community Against Violence, Inc. has been named a Senior Fellow in the Justice Programs Office (JPO) of the School of Public Affairs at American University. Senior Fellows provide multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional perspectives to help guide justice system initiatives. Summey was invited because of his work with the violence reduction efforts here in High Point.

“This is an exciting time to work in the justice field and your perspective and experience will greatly enrich our work,” wrote Caroline S. Cooper, Director of the Justice Programs Office at American University in the invitation.

Summey began working as a volunteer with HPCAV while he was the Minister at English Road Baptist Church in High Point. He became Executive Director in 2009.

For more information about the Justice Programs Office and Senior Fellow Program, visit the American University website.

Filed Under: High Point, News, State & National Tagged With: American University, Community Against Violence, crime reduction strategy, domestic violence, High Point, HP CAV, justice, Justice Programs Office, safecommunities, School of Public Affairs, Senior Fellow

Domestic Violence Initiative Covered in Independent Weekly

November 18, 2013 by Connie Lawson

Our Domestic Violence Initiative is the focus of a great article by John Tucker, Staff Writer with the Independent Weekly. It was written as a two part series, but you can read it in its entirety on line.

Tucker chose to take a national approach to the story and did his research with professionals as well a victim and her family. It’s a well rounded look at domestic violence and what High Point is doing to make a difference.

Filed Under: High Point, News, State & National Tagged With: Community Against Violence, crime reduction strategy, domestic violence, HP CAV, Independent Weekly, Indy Weekly, John Tucker, violence

Community Support Continues

November 4, 2013 by Connie Lawson

High Point Community Against Violence (HPCAV) is pleased to announce a $3500 donation to our organization from the Heart of High Point Fund.

HPCAV has had an almost 30 percent increase in offender contact and expressed need for assistance with food, utilities, rent, medicine and transportation in just the past two months. In the past quarter, HPCAV provided just over $3000 in assistance to our focused deterrence offenders and their families. The continued tight employment market and the end of many short-term jobs has meant additional challenges for our clients. Providing this limited assistance has strained our budget as well.

Thankfully, the Heart of High Point Fund gave us and other local non-profit agencies the opportunity to apply for extra funds for the end of the calendar year. Our organization was awarded $3500 which will balances our budget and will help us meet the current pressing needs.

We are grateful for the continued community support as we work to make High Point a safe place for everyone!

Filed Under: High Point, News, Partners Tagged With: cHeart of High Point Fund, Client Needs, Community Against Violence, Community Support, crime reduction strategy, High Point, High Point Community Foundation, safecommunities

Domestic Violence Initiative Underway

February 26, 2012 by Connie Lawson Leave a Comment

High Point has a new violence reduction effort: Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative. Like our other efforts targeted at street level drug dealers and gang violence, this one is focused on offenders in domestic violence cases.

“How we address domestic violence as a community has changed,” said police Chief Jim Fealy. “It’s not going to be tolerated.”

This initiative employs the same basic strategy, now known nationally as the High Point Model:

Study the data about our known domestic violence offenders;
Put on notice (through a call in) those who fit the criteria and tell them the violence must stop;
Offer encouragement to change and direction to resources as needed;
Stand with law enforcement to prosecute and remove from our city those who continue to offend.

Jim Summey, our Executive Director, told the initial group of 12, “We care about you, but it’s gotta stop.” Bobby Davis, a founding member of HPCAV, reminded them, “There are no excuses. You are responsible for your actions.”

Domestic violence is violence. And it has to stop.

Filed Under: High Point, News Tagged With: crime reduction strategy, domestic violence, JohnJayCollege, violence

USA Today and News 2

October 20, 2011 by Connie Lawson Leave a Comment

The High Point Strategy was featured in a recent USA Today article about crime reduction efforts in Providence, Rhode Island. News 2 picked up on it locally and did a nice story on our work, giving this more time than usually allotted on local news!

Thanks to Charles and Manila Dean and Deputy Chief Marty Sumner for their contributions to this story.

Filed Under: High Point, News, State & National Tagged With: crime reduction strategy, providence, rhode island

An 8 Minute Introduction

October 4, 2011 by Connie Lawson Leave a Comment

Take a short 8 minute break to listen to Dr. David Kennedy talk about the creation of this strategy on The Takeaway.

David M. Kennedy is the man to whom we in High Point go as we explore better ways for law enforcement (all police, Probation, local and federal) and the community to work together to reduce violent crime.

Filed Under: News, State & National Tagged With: crime reduction strategy, JohnJayCollege