EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND AWARDS $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT TO THE BUILD PROGRAM TO EXPAND STREET OUTREACH AND GANG INTERVENTION IN LOS ANGELES

Amid DOJ Funding Cuts, Everytown Invests in Los Angeles’ Community Violence Intervention Programs As Homicides Decline In Cities Due to CVI, Including Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that the BUILD Program (Brotherhood Unified for Independent Leadership Through Discipline) will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to sustain and expand its street outreach and gang intervention work in Los Angeles.

The BUILD Program uses a street outreach and violence interruption model, providing gang intervention, crisis response, community mobilization, and public safety training. Founded in 1992, BUILD operates in Los Angeles and beyond, offering mentorship and credible messenger support to individuals at the highest risk of violence. BUILD also leads the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute, which certifies emergency responders and frontline practitioners in violence intervention.

“We’re proud to re-invest in the BUILD Program, whose community-led public safety model continues to prevent violence and strengthen communities,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “As federal support wanes, it’s critical to ensure BUILD’s lifesaving work continues to make Los Angeles neighborhoods safer.”

“For more than three decades, The BUILD Program has been on the frontlines in Los Angeles and national and international fronts, transforming how communities address violence,” said Dr. Aquil Basheer, Founder and Executive Director, The BUILD Program. “Our work has always gone beyond reaction; it’s about prevention, interdiction, and transformation. This grant strengthens our ability to continue that mission by engaging those most impacted by violence, equipping peacekeepers with the skillsets to interrupt cycles of harm, and providing young people with real pathways toward purpose, peace, and leadership. As traditional funding streams fade, this support ensures that we can sustain our commitment to saving lives and restoring hope, from Los Angeles to communities worldwide.”

The announcement comes as the Department of Justice has slashed funding for public safety grants, challenging community-based organizations to sustain their lifesaving efforts with declining support. At the same time, many cities that invest in CVI are seeing homicides decline, a powerful testament to the effectiveness of organizations like BUILD. 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 BUILD Program. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About The BUILD Program

The Brotherhood Unified for Independent Leadership Through Discipline (BUILD) Program is a Los Angeles-based CVI organization founded in 1992. Through gang intervention, crisis response, mentorship, and community mobilization, BUILD uses a credible messenger approach to interrupt cycles of violence and build safer neighborhoods. Learn more at https://buildprogram.org/.