Camille Travis

Illinois Peace Project is proud to announce the honorees for its 2026 Peace Portraits series, a visual project dedicated to spotlighting the extraordinary individuals working every day to build safer, stronger, and more peaceful communities. 

It was a packed house at the North Lawndale Collaborative‘s (NLC) quarterly community meeting, as residents, Community Violence Intervention (CVI) professionals, and elected officials gathered to hear insights on the work being done on the ground to combat violence in the area.

Chicago is set to close out the year with historic declines in violent crime, as detailed in a new report from Crain’s Chicago Business. City leaders, law enforcement officials, and Community Violence Intervention (CVI) experts acknowledge that their combined efforts have helped make 2025 one of the city’s safest years in decades.

New Life Centers (NLC) CEO Matt DeMateo was recently honored with the 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker Award from the Chicago Bears for his impactful social justice work in Chicago. The award comes at a joyous time as NLC celebrates 20 years of service.

A group of more than 30 business, civic, faith, and nonprofit leaders from across Chicago recently came together to denounce the federal immigration operation that has played out in recent months across the city and surrounding suburbs.

In the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to cancel public safety grants, several Community Violence Intervention (CVI) leaders from across Chicago and the state testified before the Illinois General Assembly, calling for sustained funding as they continue in the fight to reduce gun violence.

Calling all peacebuilders and changemakers: The application window for the 2026 Peace Portraits is now open.

As individuals and organizations committed to reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety in Chicago, we strongly object to the immoral, illegal, and unjustified actions of federal law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in our city.

Governor JB Pritzker recently stopped by The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart to discuss the Trump administration’s decision to cut critical funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI).

Several elected officials and Community Violence Intervention (CVI) advocates from across Illinois are putting up a united front as they respond to President Trump’s recent threats to send the National Guard to Chicago.