By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, Ph.D.
The Truth Contributor
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. – Lao Tzu
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, youth violence, particularly in urban areas like Toledo, has become an increasingly urgent and pressing issue. Far too often, the lives of too many young people are cut short or irreparably damaged by acts of violence that are both senseless and tragic.
A vast and complex network of socioeconomic issues lies at the core of the problem, including poverty, limited access to high-quality education, low-cost nutritious and culturally appropriate food, safe and affordable housing, and the persistent impact of gangs and criminal activities in specific neighborhoods.
Despite the immense political pressure on the City’s leadership to produce immediate results, addressing the byzantine issue of youth violence requires more than a high-profile quick fix or short-term intervention.
Instead, the Long Game approach requires sustained, strategic efforts that address both the immediate needs and the underlying causes of youth violence. Central to Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s strategy is the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), an initiative designed to address violence through prevention, intervention, and community engagement. MONSE’s current director, Malcolm Cunningham, brings a global experience and a deep commitment to making his native Toledo a safer place for all its residents.
In this week’s article, Cunningham discusses MONSE’s strategy to tackle youth violence: focusing on long-term solutions that empower and support at-risk youth while building the foundation for a safer Toledo.
Perryman: Before discussing the five-year plan between Cities United and MONSE to reduce gun violence, I’d like to introduce you to our community. Please share a bit about yourself.
Cunningham: I was born and raised in Toledo. I grew up on the 700 block of Pinewood and moved to Lawrence Avenue when I was 16 or 17 years old. So, my roots are pretty much Junction and then Old West End. I attended Central Catholic High School and then went to Ohio State, where I initially planned to pursue a career in counseling. But decided to get into global health and development, community development just based on a couple of experiences
Perryman: What about your post-college career?
Cunningham: After college, I joined The Peace Corps and served in Rwanda as part of the first group to return after the genocide 15 years earlier, working in health and community development. Despite leaving Toledo, I always found my way back to my hometown. In 2021, I bought a home in Old Orchard, and yeah, I’m back home.
Perryman: How long have you been leading MONSE, and how did your appointment come about?
Cunningham: I’ve been leading MONSE for 15 months. My appointment came about while I was working for ProMedica. There were a few incidents, and I was impacted by them. So, I got permission to reach out to JoJuan Armour, who then held the position of Program Manager for the Mayor’s Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence. I reached out and linked him with some people from my network who are involved in this type of work and had been supportive behind the scenes.
Perryman: What other organizations or entities have you worked with?
Cunningham: I worked at The Zepf Center from 2011-2017, then at The University of Michigan School of Public Health before returning to ProMedica in late 2019 or early 2020.
Perryman: Could you outline the main goals of this five-year plan to reduce gun violence in Toledo and how it will address the unique challenges in our African American communities?
Cunningham: The goal is to reduce violence, particularly gun and interpersonal violence, focusing on Black males aged 15-29 and reducing violence against Black women. We target those at highest risk, offering intensive support, reducing risk factors and increasing protective ones.
Our approach includes:
- Changing attitudes and behaviors around conflict and violence.
- Reducing gun charges and recidivism.
- Providing comprehensive case management and support.
We also work on shifting community norms, addressing issues like blight and disinvestment, and improving access to living-wage jobs. Additionally, we’re tackling structural challenges like the benefits cliff and exploring ways to help people rise out of poverty without losing essential resources. So, our goals are to reduce violence, change attitudes, improve social conditions, strengthen neighborhoods, and drive structural change.
Perryman: It is a very long and broad answer. Do you think the plan is too big or broad to accomplish realistically?
Cunningham: If we focus on those at the highest risk and target neighborhoods where violence rates are high, it’s not too broad or too big to accomplish. Trying to solve it for all 270,000 Toledo residents might be too ambitious, but concentrating on the 300 people who need access to opportunities makes it more manageable. For example, we have 63 people in the Save Our Community Program, and other programs handle 15-20 people at a time.
This approach is achievable by providing intensive, direct support to these individuals and focusing on community-level change. Save Our Community’s success is evident, especially after Jojuan Armour joined. The Junction area, for instance, saw homicides drop from nine to two in a year, even as citywide gun violence increased. The Lagrange Corridor also experienced similar reductions in both fatal and nonfatal shootings.
We can make a significant impact with proper support from the city and community. While the plan may seem broad, we focus on well-defined and achievable specifics.
Perryman: Gun violence is often a symptom of deeper issues like poverty, lack of education, and limited economic opportunities. You mentioned these factors but didn’t delve into the disparities. Are you addressing these root causes, and can tangible outcomes be achieved without tackling them?
Cunningham: While temporary change is possible when focusing on broad metrics like violence reduction, addressing root causes is essential for lasting impact. To create meaningful change, we must improve access to opportunities, such as increasing household incomes, supporting families, and providing mental healthcare for those affected by trauma and community violence.
One key focus is on young people under 25 who are not in school, training or employment. This group is particularly at risk, so we’re exploring ways to engage and support them directly. For instance, the community recommended restarting the Youth Build Program and securing funding for it, as well as creating pathways into specific city employment opportunities.
A recent project with four youths from our caseload who have been impacted by violence highlights the potential for change. They worked over the summer, reducing blight in the neighborhood and earning over $20 an hour. Once they turn 18, they’ll have the opportunity to interview for jobs. We’re expanding the program this spring and summer to include 20 young people who will shadow professionals in departments like Urban Beautification or Parks and Youth Services, offering valuable experience and potential long-term employment.
While these initiatives won’t solve the entire issue overnight, supporting those at elevated risk and providing opportunities is crucial. These deliberate actions contribute significantly to our long-term goals.
Perryman: In a Blade interview, you mentioned that social media might be a significant driver of community violence. What strategies are being implemented to address this, and how do you plan to engage younger community members?
Cunningham: Our entire Save Our Community team is trained in E-Responder, a model focused on online violence interruption. This involves identifying risks like grief or retaliation concerns and mediating conflicts online to prevent escalation. We have already used this model in four schools, working directly with youth.
Long-term, we plan to train more community influencers—coaches, pastors, principals—who can mediate conflicts within their communities using these skills. Additionally, we need to push for media literacy at a younger age, helping youth understand how algorithms influence what they see and consume. By promoting media literacy, we aim to take a preventive approach to violence, addressing issues upstream rather than relying solely on interventions. Currently, we focus on expanding E-Responder training locally and integrating media literacy as a key long-term strategy.
Perryman: A couple more questions. How has the collaboration with Cities United influenced the Peace in Motion Plan? What key takeaways from their national experience can be applied explicitly to your work in Toledo?
Cunningham: Cities United has played a crucial role in shaping our approach, emphasizing the need to build a robust network rather than relying solely on a single program like Safe Our Community. They’ve helped us understand that while programmatic interventions are essential, they’re just one part of a larger ecosystem.
Their guidance has expanded our view of the entire violence prevention space and connected us with a national network of professionals doing similar work, a connection that we value greatly. Our next step is to tap into this network of funders to secure long-term support for our initiatives.
Additionally, Cities United has provided valuable recommendations for training programs and facilitated partnerships, such as the sub-grant with ROCA, Inc., a Massachusetts-based non-profit that works with high-risk youth. These collaborations have significantly informed and strengthened our Peace in Motion Plan.
Perryman: Finally, if you had to narrow the scope of this approach, what one area and metrics would you focus on?
Cunningham: I would focus on reducing the risk of violence and increasing access to opportunities for those at the highest risk. This would involve working intensively with about 100 individuals, providing the necessary support to lower their risk and connect them to resources that offer opportunities.
Perryman: One hundred people from where? What geographical area and age group?
Cunningham: We focus on the Junction, Englewood and Lagrange Corridor areas. I’m considering Black males aged 14 or 15 to 29. Our school-based program targets ages 14 to 19, and our street team works with a broader population. I also need to focus on a few other areas.
Various community-based organizations are also involved, targeting similar age ranges, all working towards the same goal.
Perryman: Simply stated, then, the main goal would be to reduce the homicides and incidents of violence, correct?
Cunningham: Yes, specifically reducing homicides, nonfatal shootings, and shootings into homes. The Peace in Motion Plan website, page 7, outlines our goals and objectives related to reducing gun violence and related outcomes.
Perryman: Thank You.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org