| Name | James William |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Cole |
| Home Address | 7463 Pinewood Drive Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 United States |
| Organization Name | Word Empowerment Church |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | Founder/Senior Pastor |
| Organization Address | 7463 Pinewood Drive Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 United States |
| Website | https://www.wordempowermentchurch.com |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 423-355-2655 |
| Alternate Phone Number | |
| Email Address | pastorjwcole@yahoo.com |
| Alternate Email Address | wechurchchatt@gmail.com |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | Our mission is to reduce gun violence by encouraging hope and providing opportunities to create positive futures for young people affected by crime and incarceration. Gun violence has become a growing concern in Chattanooga, TN. It both directly and indirectly impacts the health, quality of life and future of our youth and our community. In response, Focus On Solutions: Gun Violence Reduction Strategy (FOS) is a strategic planning model dedicated to better understanding the problem and its solutions. The project requires 48 hours in 8 months of participation. The lesson plan is organized into 8 units with 32 one hour and thirty-minute sessions. Within the sessions there will be group discussions, mentoring, coaching, and practices that are used to increase participants social competence, decision-making ability and positive goal setting. The project will consist of Mentors for each participant having their own from Day 1 to the end, surrounding the participants and the project, Community Partners which include but not limited to Faith community leaders, Pilgrim Joy Association, Kingdom Partners, CPD, Tennessee Probation and Parole, Hamilton County Probation and Parole, Chattanooga City Council leaders, City of Chattanooga Parks and Rec, Hamilton County Sheriff Office and The Salvation Army that will surround the participants and the project, Volunteer Advocates developing relationships with Participants during in-person sessions and encouraging them to become advocates for gun violence prevention as a community priority. According to Chattadata.org, incidents recorded by Chattanooga Police Dept from 2020- Feb 2022, were listed for each zip code, during the research of this data we collected the statistics for shoots fired with Nothing located and Murder & Non Negligent Manslaughter. For zip code 37421, incidents 160, with a population of 46,228. 37410 &37409 incidents 150, population 6,737, 37407, incidents 173, population 11,039, 37406 incidents 241, population 14627, 37404 incidents 180, population 13,327, 37402 incidents 37, population 3,917. Population data was provided by city-data.com. According to the CDC, Ages 12 to 24 are commonly used when discussing youth violence because this age range is considered high risk. For example, gang involved youth commit violent offenses at a rate higher than those not involved in gangs, with the average age range of youth involved in gangs being 12 to 24 years old. According to the CDC, homicide rates are highest among teens and young adults 15-34 years of age. For this project, the term “youth” refers to individuals 12 to 17 years old and “young adult” refers to individuals 18 to 24 years old, unless otherwise specified. According to Everystats.org, In an average year, 1,193 people die and 2,220 are wounded by guns in Tennessee. Tennessee has the 14th-highest rate of gun violence in the US.GUN DEATHS OVER TIME In Tennessee, the rate of gun deaths increased 28% from 2010 to 2019, compared to a 17% increase nationwide. The rate of gun suicides increased 15% and gun homicides increased 59%, compared to a 13% increase and 26% increase nationwide, respectively. In Tennessee, 58% of gun deaths are suicides and 38% are homicides. This is compared to 60% and 38% nationwide, respectively. Every year, an average of 460 people in Tennessee die by gun homicides and 829 are wounded by gun assaults—a rate of 7.2 homicides and 12.3 assaults per 100,000 people. Tennessee has the 13th highest rate of gun homicides and gun assaults in the US. In Tennessee, 81% of all homicides involve a gun, compared to 75% nationwide. Guns are the 2nd-leading cause of death among children and teens in Tennessee. In Tennessee, an average of 111 children and teens die by guns every year, and 62% of these deaths are homicides. In the US, 58% of all gun deaths among children and teens are homicides. Violent offenders are referred by their probation and parole officers and called into a group meeting with law enforcement officials, community members & FOS Mentors as a condition of their enrollment into the project. Focus on Solutions: Gun Violence Reduction Strategy is designed to reduce impulsive and aggressive behavior in young people by increasing their social competency skills. Participants are taught to reduce impulsive, high-risk, and aggressive behaviors and increase their socioemotional competence and other protective factors. Focus on Solutions: Gun Violence Reduction Strategy is designed to reduce impulsive and aggressive behavior in young people by increasing their social competency skills. Participants are taught to reduce impulsive, high-risk, and aggressive behaviors and increase their socioemotional competence and other protective factors. Project Overview: The project requires 48 hours in 8 months of participation. Group discussions, mentoring, coaching, and practices are used to increase students’ social competence, decision-making ability and positive goal setting. The lesson plan is organized into 8 units and 32 one hour and thirty minute sessions: Month 1 - Empathy Training: Teaches individuals to identify and understand their emotions and those of others. Emotional understanding, prediction, and communication are taught as core skills. Month 2 - Impulse Control and Problem Solving: Helps individuals choose positive goals, reduce impulsiveness, and evaluate consequences of their behavior in terms of safety, fairness, and impact on others. Participants repeatedly practice generating and evaluating solutions to social problems. Month3 - Anger Management: Enables individuals to manage emotional reactions and engage in decision making when they are highly aroused. Cognitive–behavioral techniques such as self-talk and attention control are emphasized in this session. Month 4 - Career Engagement & Workforce Development: Assist individuals with clarifying their objectives and establishing career goals, which will enable them to fulfill their personal potential. Resume development, cover letters, interviewing and job search are the key focus areas. Month 5 - Vocational Education: Provides job readiness opportunities to individuals for jobs that are based in manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic and totally related to a specific trade, occupation or vocation. Month 6 - Life Skills: Help individuals develop and maintain life skills to manage school, work, outside interests, and social relationships successfully. These skills include (as needed): Setting Financial Goals, Choosing a Bank or Credit Union, Budgeting and Money Management, Using Credit Wisely, Choosing a Cell Phone Plan, Buying Big Stuff (including cars), Paying for College, Getting Out of Your Parents' House, Avoiding Scams. Month 7 - Community Mobilization: Engages individuals in a community-wide effort to address gun violence as a health, social, and environmental issue. Elected officials, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, community organizations and concerned residents encourage participants to take some kind of action to facilitate change. Month 8 - Community Advocacy: Individuals learn how to extend and improve social support against gun violence through media campaigns and co-hosting community events. FOS Mentors will engage with participants to make sure they fully understand the issue of gun violence and the needs of the community. The focus is for participants to learn advocacy tactics that will equip them to use their voice and speak out against gun violence. Focus On Solutions becomes actionable through four specific goals: 1. Reduce shootings and homicides: Focus on direct communication with individuals through group meetings or by meeting with them one-on-one to discuss empathy, impulse control, problem solving and anger management. FOS Mentors partner with outreach workers, faith leaders, and other community leaders to promote alternatives to violence. 2. Reduce recidivism: Focuses on general education, like adult literacy and work ethics, influences individuals to finish their high school diplomas/GED, learn a trade and technical skills, and pursue post-secondary educational opportunities. Our goal is for individuals to receive general education and vocational training in efforts to become less likely to return to prison and are more likely to find employment. 3. Increase self-sufficiency: Empower individuals to establish life skills to support their future and help them become economically stable. FOS Mentors help individuals develop the life skills they need to become self-sufficient adults by providing a broad range of support including budgeting, job preparation, decision making, emotional support, and goal setting. 4. Increase Community Mobilization & Advocacy: Influence community engagement by bringing formerly incarcerated individuals, concerned residents, faith-based organizations, community organizations, and law enforcement together to address the root causes of violence. Community mobilization and advocacy includes group discussions, media campaigns, and co-hosting community events. |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | According to the ARP comprehensive strategy is to prevent and respond to gun crime and ensure public safety and Efforts to reduce and respond to violent crime – particularly gun violence – by investing in community policing, community violence interruption, and other programs that are proven to reduce crime. In efforts to reduce and respond to violent crime, particularly gun violence, this strategy influences elected officials, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, community organizations, formerly incarcerated individuals and concerned residents to collectively address youth violence through a public health perspective. Our mission is to reduce gun violence by encouraging hope and providing opportunities to create positive futures for young people affected by crime and incarceration. Gun violence has become a growing concern in Chattanooga, TN. It both directly and indirectly impacts the health, quality of life and future of our youth and our community. In doing we are requiring the following from each participant: This Project, the participants will not support or participate in any physical, verbal, or emotional violence against any person, in my home, in my school, or in my community. This Project, the participants are committed to resolving all conflicts in a peaceful way. This Project, the participants will pledge if they see something, say something. This Project, the participants will pledge if they hear something, they will tell someone. This Project, the participants will pledge to love, honor, and respect persons of all races and all religions. This Project, the participants will pledge to support their community by examining their own actions and making every effort to watch out for their neighbor. This Project, the participants will pledge to understand that every person, every organization, and every community has a role to play. This Project, the participants will pledge to do their part to put a stop to violence. |
| Where would your project take place? | Word Empowerment Church |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 123543.37 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | Yes |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | We are applying for $3,000 from the Greater Pilgrim Joy District Association. We are also pursuing grant funds from the Benwood Foundation ($15,000), Sankofa Foundation ($5,000), UNFoundation ($3,000), Kingdom Partners ($3,000), Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga ($10,000), Chattanooga Police Department ($3,000), and Hamilton County Sheriff Office ($3,000). Our aim is to solicit $5,000 in individual donations. |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | $73,543.37 |
| If funded, when would your project start? | March 6, 2023 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | 8 Months |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | Focus On Solutions Mentors & Participants will keep a journal log of each milestone completed. We will measure milestones throughout the process of the project with high priority tasks, checkpoints, and deliverables. Our project's progress is dependent on the participant's progress. Focus On Solutions: Gun Violence Reduction Strategy (FOS) will assist individuals with clarifying their objectives and establishing career goals, which will enable them to fulfill their personal potential. Resume development, cover letters, interviewing and job search are key focus areas. The project will provide job readiness opportunities to individuals for jobs that are based in manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation. FOS Mentors will help individuals develop and maintain life skills to manage school, work, outside interests, and social relationships successfully Setting Financial Goals, Choosing a Bank or Credit Union, Budgeting and Money Management, Using Credit Wisely, Jobs, Family time, Self-awareness, Furthering Education. |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | We ensure accountability & transparency through our project's Organizational Structure. (1) The Project Director (or Lead Mentor) reports to the Board of Directors of Word Empowerment Church & Senior Pastor. This person is responsible for all project planning, organizing, operating, and staffing. (2) Mentors work closely with the Lead Mentor to support the implementation of the FOS strategic plan. They're responsible for facilitating sessions and group activities, providing mentoring and coaching activities and providing support for behavior interventions. (3) Community Partners serve as a resource for Participants and their families, referring them to appropriate services. This group consists of elected officials, law enforcement, faith-based organization leaders, community organization leaders and concerned residents. (4) Volunteer Advocates support Mentors and Community Partners as in-person volunteers. They develop relationships with Participants during in-person sessions and encourage them to believe in themselves. (5) Participants are young people who are on probation or parole for violent crimes and participate in all sessions and group activities. Mentors: Each participant will have their own from Day 1 to the end Community Partners: Surrounding the participants and the project Volunteer Advocates: Develop relationships with Participants during in-person sessions and encourage them to believe in themselves. Advocate for gun violence prevention as a community priority. Community meetings: We hold monthly community meetings and/or attend neighborhood watch association meetings. |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | This project benefits the community by completing our mission. Our mission is to reduce gun violence by encouraging hope and providing opportunities to create positive futures for young people affected by crime and incarceration. Engages individuals in a community-wide effort to address gun violence as a health, social, and environmental issue. Elected officials, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, community organizations and concerned residents encourage participants to take action to facilitate change. |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | We aim to attract community buy-in by increasing community mobilization & advocacy. This project engages individuals in a community-wide effort to address gun violence as a health, social, and environmental issue. Individuals learn how to extend and improve social support against gun violence through media campaigns and co-hosting community events. The focus is for participants to learn advocacy tactics that will equip them to use their voice and speak out against gun violence, making our communities a safer place to live. |
| Name | Micah Chapman |
| Contact Information | micah@techgoeshomecha.org |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | This 8-month project would be a launch in efforts to continue to reduce the gun violence with a phase 2 project with CPD, Hamilton County Sheriff, Mayor's office, City Council and County Commission by hosting monthly gun buyback events throughout our targeted areas. |