Delaware Summit Unites Leaders to Tackle Community Violence

The Community Violence Intervention Summit held at Delaware State University this week brought together state and national leaders to address the pressing issue of community violence. Organized by End Community Violence Now, the event focused on celebrating achievements while sharing research and strategies aimed at reducing violence across communities.

Progress and Challenges in Delaware

During the summit, Lauren Footman, executive director of End Community Violence Now, emphasized the importance of a collective impact approach to combat gun violence. “Our role is to not only coordinate our community violence organizations, but to ensure that they have the financial resources and the capacity-building resources to reduce gun violence across the state of Delaware,” she stated.

A presentation by the Delaware Division of Public Health highlighted both advancements and ongoing challenges in the fight against violence. In 2023, Delaware ranked 39th in the nation for firearm deaths, with 124 fatalities. The state also ranked 28th in homicides, recording 55 deaths—a decrease from 64 in the previous year. Surprisingly, suicide-related deaths increased, with Delaware ranking 42nd nationwide and reporting 144 suicides in 2023, up from 130 in 2022. Footman pointed out the disproportionate impact of suicide on communities of color, noting that “suicide is one of the leading causes of gun violence in the state of Delaware.”

Despite the sobering statistics, Footman highlighted the positive outcomes of targeted interventions, especially in the town of Laurel, which has not recorded any homicides or shootings in 2025. “In Wilmington, we have seen historic declines to prepandemic levels,” she noted, expressing optimism for expanding the Group Violence Intervention strategy to more areas in Delaware.

National Efforts and Local Impact

Former deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Gregory Jackson, now president of the Rocket Foundation, spoke during the summit about how national initiatives have influenced local actions, including those in Delaware. Jackson discussed the development of a national “playbook” that integrates federal policy with local partnerships and improved data systems, which have contributed to notable improvements nationwide.

“Nationwide the last two years, we’ve seen a 31% reduction in homicides, a 20% reduction in mass shootings,” Jackson stated, noting that the most significant declines occurred in cities with populations exceeding one million.

Despite the closure of the White House office under the previous administration, Jackson emphasized the importance of grassroots efforts. “When the Biden administration began, there was only one statewide office of gun violence prevention. Now, there are 17 at the state level and over 130 at the city and local level,” he explained, underscoring Delaware’s role as a model for community collaboration.

Recently, Delaware took a significant step by signing legislation to establish its own Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Jackson views this as a critical component of the framework his office advocated for, which relies on strong partnerships among community leaders, advocates, and government officials.

Funding remains a central concern for many organizations working on the ground. Summit participants expressed hopes that legislative leaders will allocate resources to support community organizations already engaged in violence prevention efforts. As Delaware continues to develop its strategies, the collaboration between state and local leaders remains paramount in the ongoing battle against gun violence.