$7.6M Invested in 21 Organizations for Gun Violence Prevention

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The Washington Department of Commerce reported on Wednesday it is sending $7.6 million in grants to 21 organizations dedicated to preventing gun violence on the frontlines of the War on Drugs.

Funded by the Washington's Community Reinvestment Account, the grants will go primarily towards Black, Latine, and tribal communities disproportionately affected by gun crimes exacerbated by the drug trade, according to Commerce.

Funded organizations will spend the money on "trauma-informed, culturally competent programming" focused on crisis intervention.

“State government leaders and employees must learn to co-create with the people and communities impacted by the decisions and actions we take,” said Megan Matthews, Director of the Washington State Office of Equity. “Through the CRP, Commerce is taking the first steps towards that new approach, serving as a model we can build upon and implement across the enterprise towards a Washington for All."

The programs will offer a variety of prevention activities including mentorship, youth development, social wellness, and advocacy, the department reports further.

"This grant is giving our community a huge opportunity to develop the infrastructure necessary to combat death and violence,” Colette August, Executive Director of the Tahoma Indian Center in Pierce County told us. “So much of the funding supporting community-led violence prevention work goes to large organizations who have more capacity. This funding will help us build capacity and save our youth at the same time.”

The total value of each grant will range from $150,000 to $450,000 and be sent out by June 30, 2025, the Department of Commerce reports.

The program's final grant recipients include the following, according to Commerce:

• Abundance of Hope Center — King County
• African Community Housing and Development — King County
• Big Homie Ministries International — Pierce County
• Boys and Girls Clubs of King County — King County
• Byrd Barr Place — King County
• Building Youth Through Music (BYTM) — King, Pierce County
• East African Community Services — King County
• Forever Safe Spaces, SPC — King County
• Giving Gifts of Hope — King County
• Horn of Africa Services — King County
• InterCultural Children and Family Services — King County
• Latino Civic Alliance — Statewide
• Making A Difference Foundation — King and Pierce County
• Rainier Beach Action Coalition — King County
• Resilient In Sustaining Empowerment — King County
• Tacoma Community Boat Builders — Pierce County
• Tahoma Indian Center — Pierce County
• The Family Guide — Spokane County
• Village Life Project — King and Pierce County
• Yoga Behind Bars — King, Pierce, and Spokane County
• YouthCare — King County

The lion's share of the funds awarded will go to communities in King, Pierce, and Spokane Counties most impacted by the war on drugs, Commerce officials report further.