City of Montgomery announces $3.4 million “Together We Rise” initiative

The City of Montgomery has announced a $3.4 million initiative, called “Together We Rise” to boost community engagement, curb violence and increase communication between city departments.

Mayor Steven Reed and other community leaders held a news conference to outline the project’s goals this morning, which Action 8 News carried live on our Facebook page. The news conference is at the bottom of this article.

The city and county have committed $3.4 million to the initiative, with $1.7 million from the city and $1.7 million from the county.

“Every dollar spent on prevention and intervention pays dividends in creating safer, more vibrant communities,” Reed said. “While this is less than what we originally requested, we are committed to moving forward with this critical work and hope the state recognizes the importance of this effort and finds a way to provide additional support.”

The city says “Together We Rise” is a plan built on the understanding that public safety is a shared responsibility.

“The Montgomery Police Department is honored to be working on this initiative,” Interim Police Chief Jim Graboys said. “Our department will be working to increase our community engagement, increase recruiting, and contribute to this comprehensive plan to help make our community safer.”

Here are some elements of “Together We Rise”:

• • • Empowering faith-based organizations: Mobilizing the moral voice and community reach of our churches and faith leaders to promote peace, provide support, and foster positive community engagement.
    • Leveraging CrimeStoppers’ expertise: Utilizing their established network and resources to enhance community partnerships, firearm safety programs, and youth advocacy initiative.
    • Implementing a comprehensive CVI program: Investing in street and hospital-linked interventions, training violence interventionists, and providing wraparound services to high-risk individuals
    • Integrating public safety across city departments: Expanding community policing, prioritizing violence prevention, addressing root causes of crime through social services and economic development, and fostering community engagement through neighborhood initiatives.
    • Promoting Police Reform: Implementing initiatives that promote transparency, accountability, and community policing models that foster positive relationships between police and residents.

“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with Mayor Reed and Chief Graboys, because together, there is no problem that we cannot solve,” said Montgomery County Commission Vice Chair Carmen Moore-Zeigler. “Montgomery is a city of dreams, but also the county of infinite possibilities, and this is just the start of working together for a safer community.”