Project PEACE Evaluation
Advancing Community-First Public Safety in Saint Paul
May 2024 - May 2026
Violence prevention is foundational for building safe communities. The Violence Prevention Forum defines violence prevention as “the whole of society working deliberately and sustainably to remove sources of harm and inequality, and heal woundedness, by intentionally growing an ethic of mutual care, respect and inclusion to build peace.” This effort requires addressing the underlying roots of violence.
MNJRC is conducting a developmental evaluation with the City of Saint Paul’s Office of Neighborhood Safety to explore their unfolding gun violence intervention and prevention program, Project PEACE—a GVI/CVI program designed to connect youth and young adults at high risk of gun violence with wrap-around supports.
Melvin Carter, Mayor of St. Paul, announced Project PEACE in July of 2022 alongside Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (CNN).​​​​​
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Traditional responses to gun violence aren’t working; new, transformative approaches like Project PEACE, launched in 2022, are wrapping around families and getting to the root causes of violence and safety.
According to the City of Saint Paul, “Project PEACE is a methodical, individualized gun violence intervention that connects gun violence involved individuals with evidence-based community led programming, and wraparound supports.
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The approach facilitates direct, sustained and persistent engagement with a small number of group-involved individuals through a partnership of community leaders, optimal response teams, social service providers, employers, and law enforcement standing and acting together. It was designed after months of community input and stakeholder meetings intended to reflect the needs of our residents.”
Our Evaluation Process
To document and understand the approach of Project PEACE and explore its impact, we are digging into questions related to the following: differences in relevant measures of gun violence; differences in community use of public spaces or perception of safety; what effective and sustainable collaboration between Project PEACE and their operational partners looks like; what effective and meaningful engagement between Project PEACE and the St. Paul community is happening and possible; and the experience and impact of Project PEACE for clients and their families.
We are exploring these topics through attending and observing meetings, conducting interviews with ONS staff, partners, and clients, collecting data, and reading documents, all in deep partnership and relationship with the Saint Paul team and stakeholders.
An organizational model of Project PEACE assembled by the city of Saint Paul's Office of Neighborhood Safety.
View as PDF​​​​​
Get Involved
Do you live in Saint Paul and work in the violence prevention space? As we map out the safety ecosystem we want to hear from you! Reach out to our research team to learn more and share your experience.
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You can also support this project by donating to the Minnesota Justice Research Center. Your contributions make a difference in how we're able to do our work.
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Research Team
Research Director, MNJRC
Community Impact Director, MNJRC
Project Manager
Research Lead
External Partner
