Building Collective Efficacy Towards Peace
The Building Blocks of Peace initiative seeks to decrease violence in Chicago neighborhoods by building collective efficacy in local communities. Through training and organizing, the initiative endeavors to enhance “social cohesion” among residents at the block level and accelerate collaboration between community-based organizations and networks working towards violence reduction, thereby increasing “shared expectation for social control” (Sampson 2010).
The Building Blocks of Peace initiative is a multi-sectoral collaboration between 100 Blocks/100 Churches, Chicago CRED, Chicago Police Department Office of Community Policing, Chicagoland United in Prayer, the Chicago Peace Campaign, City of Chicago Office of the Mayor, Together Chicago, and the Catalyst Hub, North Park University’s Office of Civic Engagement and Experiential Learning.
Training & Mobilization Flow
The 2021 edition of Building Blocks of Peace collaborative has developed a 6-month training and mobilization flow made up of 3 months of training (March, April, May) and 3 months of community engagement (June, July, August). Participants will receive training on best practices from local practitioners who are organizing and model faith-based peacemaking efforts, and will complete monthly coursework. Throughout the training flow, individuals will be connected to leaders in their districts and others who are putting faith into action in practical ways for the good of their blocks and neighborhoods.
Learn more at www.buildingblocksofpeace.com