ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 28, 2026) – The Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s Gun Violence Intervention Team announces a new partnership to proactively combat violence from a public health approach in the Brooklyn Park community. City of Refuge Baltimore will serve as the lead organization driving this new Violence Interruption Program.
"Violence is not just a crime issue; it is a public health crisis that demands a proactive response," said Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Tonii Gedin. "This partnership allows us to treat violence at its root, heal our neighborhoods and give the people of Brooklyn Park the safe, thriving community they deserve."
This initiative represents a critical expansion of the county's public health approach to preventing violence, mediating conflicts and empowering local neighborhoods. This collaboration aims to address and prevent violence within the Brooklyn Park community, fostering a safer, more secure environment in neighborhoods.
City of Refuge Baltimore was chosen as the lead Community-Based Organization following a rigorous, multi-month planning and procurement process. The organization brings a wealth of experience in community organizing, social services and intervention to the partnership. Their proven track record in implementing successful programs aligns seamlessly with the goals of the violence intervention initiative.
"City of Refuge is honored to lead the Violence Interruption Program in Brooklyn Park,” said City of Refuge Founder and CEO, Billy Humphrey. “Working with our neighbors, partners and local government, we will work to cure violence before it starts and build a safer northern Anne Arundel County. Together, we will bring hope to life."
City of Refuge Baltimore will use the Cure Violence Global model, a public health-based violence interruption model that treats violence as a contagious disease. By interrupting the transmission of violence, engaging high-risk individuals, and changing social norms, the program has proven successful in reducing violence in numerous communities.
The Brooklyn Park Violence Interruption Program will now move directly into the implementation phase. Over the coming weeks, City of Refuge Baltimore and the county will work to post roles, execute candidate pre-screening, and hire the program manager, supervisor, interrupters and outreach workers who will make up the team. Once training and onboarding are completed, they will begin community implementation with regular reporting on performance metrics and impact.