Many cities have made great strides in their public safety strategies. The dramatic declines in gun violence over the past few years are signs that they’re working. But this progress raises important questions now, as the Trump administration cuts funding and cultivates a political climate hostile to the work of gun violence prevention. What can cities do to sustain progress? What needs to be in place for these reductions in shootings to endure? What does it mean for a city, in particular, to get good at preventing violence?
In this 2026 Safer Together panel, experts discuss what makes a public safety strategy effective, why community members need to be at the policymaking table, the obstacles to maintaining momentum, the importance of cities and organizations sharing their narratives of gun violence reduction, and how community violence intervention organizations can forge a path forward in a uniquely challenging environment.
Panelists
- Thomas Abt, founding director, Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction
- Marcus Ellis, deputy director, Cities United
- Latisha McNeil, senior manager, NICJR National Office of Violence Prevention Network
- Kim Gutierrez, Giffords Center for Violence Intervention
- Moderator: Chip Brownlee, staff writer, The Trace