EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND AWARDS $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT TO CIRCLE OF BROTHERHOOD TO EXPAND STREET OUTREACH AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN MIAMI

Everytown Reinvests In Miami’s Trusted CVI Program Amid DOJ Funding Cuts

Homicide Rates in Areas Serviced By Circle of Brotherhood Have Seen Drops in Double Digits

MIAMI, FL — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that the Circle of Brotherhood will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to sustain its outreach, youth mentorship, and reentry programs.

Circle of Brotherhood uses a street outreach and youth mentorship model, offering trauma-informed programs in reentry, violence interruption, and wellness. By deploying credible messengers, the organization builds trust with high-risk individuals and families to reduce violence and promote healing.

“We’re proud to re-invest in Circle of Brotherhood because their outreach and mentorship programs demonstrate the power of community-led solutions to interrupt violence and create lasting change,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “As the federal rollbacks have greatly impacted Circle of Brotherhood, it’s critical funders join Everytown in helping fill funding gaps so they can continue their essential, life-saving work.”

“Our brothers and sisters are on the ground every day, meeting young men and families where they are and walking with them toward stability,” said Lyle Muhammad, CEO and Executive Director, Circle of Brotherhood. “This grant ensures we can keep supporting our community even as federal dollars disappear and local politics turns a blind eye.”

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 Circle of Brotherhood. Research shows that community-level violence prevention programs can contribute to drops in crime. Circle of Brotherhood has cited an 80 % drop in violent crime in targeted neighborhoods, attributed to their interventions, youth programs, and mediation efforts. 

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 Circle of Brotherhood. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About Circle of Brotherhood

Circle of Brotherhood is a Miami-based organization dedicated to reducing violence and supporting families in historically under-resourced communities. Its programs include street outreach, youth mentorship, reentry support, and wellness services, led by credible messengers who bring lived experience and trust to their work. Learn more at https://www.circleofbrotherhoodmiami.org/about.