LIVING CLASSROOMS IN BALTIMORE AWARDED $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT FROM EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND TO STRENGTHEN STREET OUTREACH AND CRISIS RESPONSE

Everytown Invests In Baltimore’s CVI Network, Which Has Been Critical in Reducing Crime in the City; DOJ Cuts Threaten Progress

BALTIMORE — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that Living Classrooms will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to expand its street outreach and crisis response program, Operation Respond.

Living Classrooms, a long-time grantee of the Community Safety Fund, is using this new support to grow Operation Respond, a street outreach and violence interruption program that delivers crisis response, trauma-informed care, workforce development, and mentorship. With deep roots in Baltimore’s Safe Streets initiative, the program now serves neighborhoods like Belair-Edison and McElderry Park through a mobile Crisis Response Resource Center.

“In Baltimore and across Maryland, we’ve seen firsthand how community violence intervention organizations are saving lives and helping young people find safer paths forward,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “But instead of increasing these investments, the Department of Justice has cut support, handicapping the frontlines of violence prevention. Commitment to  organizations like Living Classrooms that has a proven track record are critical to ensuring local programs can keep doing what Washington won’t: protect our communities.”

“In Baltimore, we’ve seen firsthand that investment in community violence intervention saves lives and breaks cycles of violence,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Co-Chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. “That’s why the federal retreat from CVI investment is so dangerous: it undermines strategies that are making communities safer across the country. We’re grateful for Everytown’s continued investment in Living Classrooms.”

“We’re proud to re-invest in Living Classrooms because its work has proven effective in reducing violence in Baltimore through programs like Operation Respond,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “Baltimore Mayor Scott has rightfully prioritized these programs as essential parts of a comprehensive public safety strategy and for good reason: they save lives. Living Classrooms has been greatly impacted by federal funding rollbacks and now, more than ever, it’s critical it has the support it needs.” 

“Operation Respond is an extension of our commitment to Baltimore families — combining crisis response with long-term support for those impacted by violence,” said Cheryl Riviere, Managing Director of Workforce Development, Living Classrooms. “Everytown’s continued support means we can grow this new program at a moment when federal funding is disappearing, ensuring our neighborhoods are not left behind.”

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. Baltimore is the safest it has been in nearly half a century due to Mayor Brandon Scott’s significant focus and investment in CVI. 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 Living Classrooms. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About Living Classrooms

Living Classrooms is a Baltimore-based nonprofit providing education, workforce development, and community safety programs. Through Operation Respond, the organization delivers crisis response, street outreach, mentorship, and trauma-informed care to neighborhoods impacted by gun violence. Learn more at https://livingclassrooms.org/programs/operation-respond.