Ep. #28 - Tio Hardiman is the Executive Director for Violence Interrupters.  He has dedicated his life and career to community organizing for peace and social change. In 1999, Mr. Hardiman joined CeaseFire, an award-winning public health model that has been scientifically proven to reduce shootings and killings. In 2004, Tio created the Violence Interrupters Initiative.  Under his direction, CeaseFire received additional funding from the State of Illinois to immediately expand from 5 to 15 communities and from 20 to 130 Outreach Workers and Violence Interrupters. The Violence Interrupters are a specialty unit of violence intervention experts that work to mediate conflict on the “front-end.” In other words, they speak directly with the youth so-called gang leaders to try to get them to resolve their conflict.  The Violence Interrupters’ reputation and connections in the community provide them access to leaders and influential decision makers in street organizations. Today, the Violence Interrupters Model has been replicated in 15 Chicago communities, 7 cities in Illinois, 15 cities nationwide, England, Iraq, and South Africa. In addition, more than 30 cities and 20 nations concerned about their own levels of shootings and killings have expressed interest in learning more about the Violence Interrupters.  Tio Hardiman can be reached at 773-391-9072 or tio_h@yahoo.com Website - https://www.violenceinterrupters.org/ The Dovetail Project https://thedovetailproject.org Homeboy Enterrpises https://homeboyindustries.org Black-Owned Business Ad – YBConnects, LLC Ph. (804) 482-0866 Website – www.yourlinkedinlocksmith.com