414 LIFE IN MILWAUKEE AWARDED $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT FROM EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND TO SUSTAIN HOSPITAL-BASED INTERVENTION AND STREET OUTREACH

Amid DOJ Funding Cuts, Everytown Invests In Madison’s Community Violence Intervention Programs 

MILWAUKEE, WI — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that 414 Life will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to expand its work treating gun violence as a public health issue.

414 Life is Milwaukee’s hospital- and community-based violence intervention program, combining hospital-based interventions with street outreach. Working in partnership with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, the program deploys trained violence interrupters to mediate conflicts in hospital trauma units and neighborhoods alike.

“414 Life is a returning grantee of the Community Safety Fund, and we’re proud to continue supporting them as their hospital- and community-based approach reduces gun violence and saves lives,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “As the federal government rollbacks critical grants, it’s critical that trusted organizations with proven track records like 414 Life have the resources to keep saving lives.”

“This grant will allow us to keep doing the work that has saved lives in Milwaukee — interrupting cycles of violence and helping survivors heal,” said Lynn Lewis, Director, 414 Life. “Everytown’s investment couldn’t come at a more critical time.”

The announcement comes as the Department of Justice has slashed funding for public safety grants, challenging community organizations to sustain their lifesaving efforts with declining support. At the same time, many cities that have invested in community violence intervention (CVI) are seeing gun homicides decline, a powerful testament to the effectiveness of programs like 414 Life. Research shows that community-level violence prevention programs can contribute to drops in crime.

Since its launch in 2019, the Everytown Community Safety Fund has invested more than $15.7 million in grants to 142 CVI organizations across 72 U.S. cities, in addition to technical support and capacity building resources. This year, Everytown is awarding $2.67 million in grants nationwide, including renewed support for long-standing partners like the 414 Life. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About 414 Life

414 Life is a collaborative violence intervention initiative between the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. By combining hospital-based response with community outreach, 414 Life treats gun violence as a public health issue and works to break cycles of retaliation through mediation, survivor support, and trauma-informed care. Learn more at https://city.milwaukee.gov/414Life?utm_source=414life.com