Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationally funded program through the US Department of Justice that is working to keep our communities safe by eliminating gun violence. Managed by the US Attorney's office, Project Safe Neighborhoods is a collaborative effort among federal, state and local law enforcement and community partners to create strategies to address gun crime and domestic violence in Western North Carolina.
Mecklenburg County CSS received a grant in 2020 from Project Safe Neighborhoods to do domestic violence prevention. With these funds, CSS works to increase awareness of the various ways domestic violence impacts the community. Working collaboratively with members of the Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau, community experts and DV survivors the Prevention and Intervention Services team to educate the community different forms of domestic violence and engage them in discussion around the subject. Information is distributed through the Community Support Services Facebook page and monthly Coffee Chat programs.
Coffee Chat programs are offered the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. They provide an opportunity for the community to engage, virtually, in a safe space to discuss domestic violence and learn more about the resources available to domestic violence survivors and their families in Mecklenburg County. The programs, and social media engagement, focus on different topics each month:
- January: Stalking Awareness Month: Relationships and after breakups
- February: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
- March: Financial Abuse
- April: Sexual Assault and DV
- May: Mental Health Awareness Month
- June: Safety Month
- July: Domestic Violence + The Law
- August: Domestic Violence + Back to School
- September: Digital Domestic Violence Awareness
- October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- November – December : Holiday Isolation Awareness in DV Relationships
To learn more about these programs or participate as a speaker, please contact CSSPrevention@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Through effective marketing campaigns and community engagement activities, select neighborhoods in Mecklenburg County have seen a reduction in gun crime.
The project continues to build momentum through its leadership and strengthen community efforts with the assistance of the PSN Community Partners.
In FY2021 and FY2022, the NCGIA and the U.S. Attorney's Office awarded Community Support Services an additional grant to help provide teen dating violence and domestic violence education in the community.
Project Safe Neighborhood Communities
Freedom Corridor:
Ashley Park**
Enderly Park**
Glenwood Point Apartments
Parkview
**As defined by the City of Charlotte's Neighborhood Development Quality of Life Study
Parkwood Corridor:
Belmont
Lockwood
Villa Heights
Hidden Valley *
*Part of PSN pilot program