Violence Interrupter
Idealist
About the Organization
The mission of the Terence Crutcher Foundation is to create just and liberated communities free from racial violence and harm. We do this through Advancing Policy, Strengthening Communities, and Honoring the Legacy of our Ancestors. We engage the community, law enforcement, and policymakers to identify, prevent, and confront racial inequities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and across the country.
Position Purpose
The Terence Crutcher Foundation, is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Violence Interrupter for a three-year grant-funded position. This role will be instrumental in facilitating positive behavior change amongst youth and young adults and community groups through identifying and detecting conflicts to interrupt them, with the ultimate goal of stopping shootings and gun violence. This position focuses on identifying and mediating conflicts, building trust with high-risk individuals, and maintaining a strong, consistent presence in the community to disrupt cycles of violence before they escalate. The ideal candidate will possess deep knowledge of North Tulsa, strong community credibility, and the ability to intervene effectively during high-stress and potentially volatile situations.
Cure Violence is a strategic evidence-based public health approach to reduce and prevent shootings and killings. Skilled outreach workers are a key ingredient to the success of this initiative and are instrumental in helping to facilitate positive behavior change amongst high-risk individuals and groups through identifying and detecting conflicts to interrupting them.
Responsibilities/Essential Duties
Stopping Shootings by doing all that is required individually, and in a team, to prevent all shootings in the neighborhood assigned, including:
- Getting to know all the highest risk persons, their families, and peers in the target area.
- Work to develop relationships (inroads) in the target area to stop shootings by having folks reach out to you when there are conflicts that may lead to violence.
- Working to intervene in circumstances in which violence is likely, including possible retaliation.
- Working to understand why a shooting happened and to determine why it is that you and the team were not informed – developing strategies to be better informed the next time
- Working to gain trust of the community and the highest risk persons so that they know why you are there – to help prevent shootings and violence, and to help high-risk persons in any way you can.
Full participation in Cure Violence, which includes:
- Gaining information on potential conflicts in Cure Violence communities.
- Formulating action plans to help resolve conflicts.
- Meeting with high-risk individuals and groups on a daily basis to discuss issues.
- Working to prevent initial acts of violence.
- Helping in the efforts to prevent all potential retaliatory shootings.
- Developing relationships with influential individuals and groups in the community.
- Referring potential clients/participants to outreach workers.
- Documenting conflicts resolved on conflict mediation forms.
- Keeping a daily log documenting all contacts with high-risk individuals daily.
- Distributing public education materials within the community.
- Attending community responses and events as needed.
Education and Experience:
- Experience working with those likely to be involved in violence (highest risk).
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience or training in crisis intervention
- Knowledge of and deep connection to the Target Area
- Valid driver’s license, insurance, and good driving record
Skills and Abilities:
- Strong communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as community needs require.
- Deep commitment to nonviolence, healing justice, and community empowerment.
- Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure and in emotionally charged environments.
- Collaborative and team-oriented, with a strong sense of accountability and integrity.
- Self-motivated, dependable, and responsive to changing community dynamics.