News & Projects
Our work Is expansive, and so are the stories that shape the Chicago region’s civic ecosystem.
This space is designed to inform, inspire, and celebrate the collective efforts to create a more vibrant, equitable, and prosperous Chicago region for all.
From partner spotlights and project updates to deep dives on key initiatives, we share the moments, milestones, and ideas that reflect our collaborative approach.
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Mayor’s Office of Re-Entry Strategy
Each year, nearly 16,000 individuals return to Chicago-area communities from incarceration — facing enormous barriers and a system ill-equipped to support them. Civic Consulting Alliance partnered with the City's re-established Office of Reentry to build the strategic foundation it needed to drive real change. From clarifying the Office's mission and mapping existing services, to facilitating cross-agency collaboration and developing budget proposals, CCA helped the office give returning residents a stronger path forward.
Community Violence Intervention Public-Private One Table
Community Violence Intervention (CVI) uses multidisciplinary strategies to engage individuals and groups to prevent and disrupt cycles of violence and retaliation. It establishes relationships between individuals and community assets to deliver services that save lives, address trauma, provide opportunity, and improve physical, social, and economic conditions to prevent violence.
Cook County Pretrial Stakeholders Group
Since 2014, Civic Consulting Alliance has facilitated the Cook County Pretrial Stakeholders’ Group, tasked with promoting community safety and reducing reliance on incarceration. This includes mitigating the destabilizing effects of the system at every contact point, with a particular focus on helping those disproportionately impacted during the pretrial stages of criminal prosecution.
CPD & CVI Professional Understanding
Starting in 2020, the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois significantly increased investment in community violence intervention (CVI) services in Chicago – including street outreach – as part of a holistic and community-driven approach to violence reduction. As street outreach teams respond to more incidents, there is a need for clarity on roles and protocols between the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and CVI providers.
Community Violence Intervention Is Taking Hold (2023)
Community violence intervention (CVI) uses community-centered initiatives to reduce violence. It establishes relationships between individuals and community assets to deliver services that save lives, address trauma, provide opportunity, and improve the physical, social, and economic conditions that drive violence. Since 2017, Civic Consulting Alliance has invested in work with clients that catalyze CVI efforts across sectors.
Community violence intervention (CVI) uses community-centered initiatives to reduce violence. It establishes relationships between individuals and community assets to deliver services that save lives, address trauma, provide opportunity, and improve the physical, social, and economic conditions that drive violence. Since 2017, Civic Consulting Alliance has invested in work with clients that catalyze CVI efforts across sectors.
“Civic Consulting Alliance was instrumental in getting the Cut the Tape initiative off the ground quickly. Their in-depth research on peer cities and insightful stakeholder engagement helped us identify ways to streamline the City’s real estate development process. This not only saved us valuable time but also ensured we targeted the highest-impact solutions that will lead to more affordable housing and vibrant commercial corridors throughout Chicago.”
Kenya Merritt, Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development, City of Chicago