(Washington, DC)— Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) today announced that the Havenwoods Economic Development Corporation will receive $50,000 for a Community Intervention Program focused on crime prevention. The project is designed to target those that are on the verge of going to jail, and encourage the community and the offender to work together to eliminate illegal drug dealing, avoid incarceration, and give the offender a way to change his or her life.

“Drugs and drug-related activity pose a serious threat to the safety of our neighborhoods, but simply locking people behind bars for engaging in illegal drug activity does not eliminate the root causes of drug-related crimes,” Congresswoman Moore said. “We need to teach people another way of life. We need to show them a path to becoming productive members of a community. This program facilitates the transition between a life revolving around drugs to a more positive life by giving offenders a final chance to make a change before it’s too late and they end up in jail – a pretty strong incentive to do the right thing.”

The Community Intervention Project is modeled after the David Kennedy Common Ground Initiative, a similar program that sought to rehabilitate offenders rather than put them in jail. The $50,000 will go toward video surveillance equipment, personnel, supplies, and to pay for one full time Milwaukee Police Department Law Enforcement Officer who will be dedicated to the initiative for one year.

Resources are also being provided in-kind by community-based organizations and faith-based organizations. Services offered to intervention subjects include, but are not limited to, adult education, Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse counseling and mentoring.

“This project is an excellent example of collaboration among residents, community-based organizations, the faith-based community, law enforcement and all levels of local government,” said Stephanie Harlig, Executive Director of Havenwoods Economic Development Corporation. “Our collaborators have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to this program. It is this type of coming together that is required to address the issues facing Milwaukee right now.”

Collaborators on this project include: Milwaukee Police Department, 4th District, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Office of the Milwaukee County District Attorney, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Redemption Lutheran Church, Christ the King Baptist Church, Lighthouse Youth Center, Favour Fortress, Unity in the Body of Christ, YMCA, Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, Westlawn Residents Council. Office of the Mayor of Milwaukee, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, and the State of Wisconsin Department of Community and Faith Based Initiatives.

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For an interview with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, please contact Marni Goldberg at 202-593-8574.

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