The violence needs to stop. And it’s going to take all of us.

Any life lost to violence is one too many.

Recent tragedies in Flint have heightened concerns over safety in our community. We must come together to stop gun violence and make our community safer and more united for current residents and future generations.

It’s important to recognize that this isn’t just a Flint problem. Gun violence is an epidemic throughout our country. The Commonwealth Fund reported in 2024 that nearly all U.S. states have a higher firearm mortality rate than most other countries. Death rates due to physical violence by firearm in U.S. states are closer to rates seen in countries experiencing active conflict.

Creating a safer, stronger city, state and country is no small order. But we must start now. And we must do it together.

The Mott Foundation’s new strategic plan commits up to $30 million over the next 10 years — including $5 million over the next year alone — to support public safety in Flint. It’s a key part of the Foundation’s $100 million commitment to support community vitality and a higher quality of life for all residents.

We know violence prevention requires a holistic, layered approach.

We believe individuals and families thrive when they have the sustainable assets they need to meet their needs. When people feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. When kids and teens have easy access to sports and afterschool programs. And when residents can come together in community centers, parks, play spaces and cultural venues to celebrate diversity and build community.

The Mott Foundation currently provides support to local law enforcement agencies through grants to the city of Flint, Genesee County and the University of Michigan-Flint. We appreciate both the tireless work and the collaborative efforts of the Flint Police Department, Genesse County Sheriff’s Department and UM-Flint’s Department of Public Safety.

In addition, the Mott Foundation also supports programs and projects to help prevent crime, engage young people and improve public safety. That includes support for the Community Safety Collaborative hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. The collaborative supports violence-interruption and conflict-resolution training for community members through groups such as the Peacekeepers. We also support community advocacy and violence interruption programming through the Hurley Trauma Recovery Center.

The Foundation’s support for things like community education, afterschool programming, community centers, and youth sports and play gives young people safe and welcoming opportunities to build relationships, work through life’s challenges, and engage in meaningful activities and programs.

There are many community groups and organizations already working to prevent violence, intervene when it occurs, and support individuals and families to break cycles of violence that plague homes, schools and neighborhoods.

We’re actively talking with those organizations, law enforcement agencies and funding partners about what’s working, what we can build on, where there are additional needs and how we all might come together to address them.

If we all stand behind the community we care about so much, we can move in the right direction.

To Flint residents, if you’d like to share your priorities and strategies for how we can come together to create a safer, stronger community, please share your ideas with us at communitysafety@mott.org.