The Champaign County Community Coalition held its monthly meeting on July 9.
The meeting included an update from Project Success – Rise-Up Gun Violence Prevention based in Danville, where representatives showcased a powerful student-produced video aimed at raising awareness and encouraging an end to gun violence in their community.
A key highlight of the meeting was the update on the upcoming Black Mental Health and Wellness Conference, scheduled for September 20, 2025. The event will feature Dr. Tiffany Gholson of Breaking Barriers International as the keynote speaker and will offer eight dynamic sessions exploring topics like trauma-informed care, youth mental health, the role of the Black church, domestic violence, navigating difficult conversations, addiction, racialized trauma, and building emotional resilience. Register for the conference.
Then representatives from the Champaign County Firearm Safety Program delivered a presentation to raise awareness about their initiative and encourage community members to actively participate in promoting responsible firearm safety. Learn more about this program.
Joy Academics, supported by the Champaign County Community Coalition’s summer initiatives, shared an overview of their program and highlighted the range of academic and enrichment services they offer students across the Champaign-Urbana area.
Local law enforcement agencies provided updates on recent crime trends and shared details about upcoming community engagement initiatives designed to strengthen public safety and trust.
And the Justice Victim Advocates (JVAs) from the Equity and Engagement Department provided an update on the support services they offer to victims and their families following incidents of gun violence. Their presentation offered an overview of the JVA team structure, how Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint partners are integrated into the response process, and the range of direct services provided to those impacted.
