The Campaign Against Violence is an affiliate of the League of Young Voters (LYV) and is a Milwaukee based 501.C3 that focuses on educating, agitating and organizing the hip-hop generation (18-35 year olds) to take a proactive stance against interpersonal violence.
After mobilizing thousands of voters in the 2004 Milwaukee Mayoral race and the Presidential election, in Nov 2004 the principals involved with the CAV decided to make a long-term investment in Milwaukee's inner city community by starting this unique organization.
In 2005, the group made aggressive moves in battling violence by organizing 5 Anti-Violent Marches, receiving dozens of media hits, including Progressive, Source Magazine and BET and trained 5000 youth and young adults in conflict resolution.
Since then, the Campaign Against Violence has sprouted on the national scene, with staff members participating as delegates, panelists organizers and guests in some of the nation’s most progressive and influential events, including:Opening poem for Danny Glover in Tracy prison in (California 2003)
Invitation by Congressional Black Caucus member Maxine Waters to serve as panelists with Reginald Hudlin, Doug E. Fresh, Common and Russell Simmons (2004)
“Vote or Die†rally with Sean Puffy Combs and Mary J. Blige (2004)
Democratic Gain Performance on Cousin Jeff Chronicles (2005)
Opened up for Minister Louis Farakahn (2005)
Gathering of the Elders with Harry Belafonte (2005-2006)
< Operation Push with Jesse Jackson (2006)
> Opened up for Andrew Young, Chuck d, Martin Luther King 3 at Bloody Sunday
Take Back America – Panelist with Hillary Clinton and John Kerry (Washington D.C 2006)
National Political Hip Hop Political Convention (Chicago 2006)
Mission
By agitating, educating and organizing, it is the mission of the Campaign Against Violence to inspire the hip-hop generation to take a proactive stance against interpersonal violence.
GoalsTo develop a sustainable organization addressing the socio-economic and cultural needs of the inner-city community.
To create a campaign-like atmosphere that will educate teens and young adults about the importance of living violence-free lives.
To train skilled leaders to become skilled peer mediator To build bridges between the hip-hop generation, Milwaukee's religious groups, labor unions and community-based organizations.
Strategy
The Campaign Against Violence use a three-phase approach to attack violence in Milwaukee's central city:
Phase 1
During phase 1, targeted neighborhoods were canvassed by volunteers and community organizers to conduct field surveys. The survey which featured questions such as: "Why is this neighborhood so violent?", "How can the neighborhood be less violent?", "Who do you trust in the neighborhood?" was used as a tool to assess the needs of the community. The canvass also showed community residents that there were people in the community that cared, showed area criminals that they would be held accountable by the larger community, assed the needs of Milwaukee's most violent neighborhoods, and identified community leaders. Neighborhoods that have repeated acts of violence were be continually canvassed.
Phase 2
During phase 2, Peer Mentors, individuals who trusted by neighborhood residents, were identified and given responsibility for maintaining interaction with community residents and assessing the needs of their assigned areas. They were also responsible for mobilizing community block clubs, referring neighborhood residents to allied churches, community organizations, and employment services.
Phase 3
CAV is currently in its third phase organizing a series of town hall workshops, block parties and rallies to keep neighborhoods involved. Campaign organizers carried the message of anti-violence into the schools through writing workshops where middle school and high school students where deputized to take a stance against violence. Phase 3 has also seen organizers bringing the message of nonviolence outside of the neighborhoods to the local and national level. It is the goal that during this phase, the Campaign Against violence will come to scale as an organization, and will begin to address the many needs of Milwaukee's inner city community by maintaining an institutional presence in the city's most violent neighborhoods and schools.
By agitating, educating and organizing, it is the mission of the Campaign Against Violence to inspire the hip-hop generation to take a proactive stance against interpersonal violence.
CAVTV - GOTV V.GRAY VOTE FOR THE HOOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYEGKfIaNRA
Puttin in work on the streets of Milwaukee during the last few days til election.