Gómez Celebrates 20 Years of Shannon Initiative and $1.2 Million Investment in Springfield and Chicopee

Senator Adam Gomez today applauded the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s announcement of more than $8.4 million in statewide grants to prevent youth violence, including over $1.2 million for Springfield and Chicopee through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI).

The Shannon CSI program, now in its 20th year, funds evidence-based strategies to reduce youth and gang violence through community collaboration. This year’s awards include $860,688 for Springfield and $415,951 for Chicopee/Holyoke, supporting local organizations and partners working to create safer neighborhoods and expand opportunities for young people.

“Preventing violence starts with creating real opportunities for our youth,” said Senator Adam Gómez. “For two decades, the Shannon Community Safety Initiative has been a lifeline for our neighborhoods, helping us build trust, reduce crime, and give young people a path forward. I’m grateful to see this investment continue, because it means safer streets and stronger futures for the next generation.”

“Our communities are stronger and safer as a result of these investments and the partnerships built through this program,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By carrying forward Senator Shannon’s legacy, we are strengthening communities, expanding opportunity for young people and showing what is possible when Massachusetts leads with evidence and purpose.”

“This program stands as a national model for youth violence prevention because it is grounded in best practices and adapts to meet the unique needs of each community,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re proud to continue this important work for the next generation.”

The program was created in memory of State Sen. Charles E. Shannon Jr., who represented the 2nd Middlesex District at the time of his death on April 5, 2005. Shannon CSI incorporates the key elements of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Comprehensive Gang Model. The program supports regional, multi-disciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through five strategy areas: social intervention, suppression, opportunity provision, organizational change and community mobilization. Research partners provide strategic analysis and support to maintain and improve operations and meet program goals.

Cities with Shannon CSI program sites experienced reductions in crimes committed by youth ages 10 to 24 – the age group served by the Shannon CSI. These reductions included a 24% drop in aggravated assaults and 52% decrease in robberies between 2020 and 2024, according to analysis conducted by the program’s Statewide Research Partner. Statewide, there was a 4% reduction in aggravated assaults and a 40% reduction in robberies committed by members of this age group.

“No agency can do this work alone,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon. “For 20 years, the Shannon grant has demonstrated what is possible when nonprofits, police, prosecutors and community stakeholders work together. It succeeds because violence reduction and youth engagement are a shared responsibility that requires coordinated action. I commend all the Shannon award recipients for their continued collaboration.”

“The Shannon CSI has been central to the state’s violence preventions strategy for two decades. The program’s collaborative approach and evidence-based practices allow us to deliver multi-disciplinary services that are tailored to address the challenges facing Massachusetts communities,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.