When we invest in communities, we invest in a future that is healthy and safe for all of us.

A safe community is one where we all can live, work, and play without fear of violence or harm toward us or our loved ones. 

We can build these safe communities together by supporting equitable access to...
affordable homes
green spaces
living wages
quality education
... and more – especially in communities that have been most impacted by disinvestment, which is a result of systemic racism and class oppression.

The research shows: this equitable investment in our communities is what works.

How can you help build safer communities?

Support community-led solutions that improve people’s health and well-being.
Hold policymakers accountable to create and support legislation that invests in community-led solutions that prevent violence and veers away from a criminal response to violence.
Learn how public health works with communities to make them safer.

  • Get practical guidance from our joint Community Safety Realized report. Learn how city, community, and public health advocates can work together for safer communities.

  • Big city health departments work with communities to make them safer and healthier. See how. 

  • Prevention Institute partnered with the Santa Clara Health Department and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation to elevate gun violence as a preventable public health issue.

  • Learn about Safety Through Connection, launched in 2018 with support from Blue Shield of California Foundation to cultivate community-driven culture and systems change for health equity, safe relationships, and domestic violence prevention.
Big Cities Health Coalition thanks the Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation for primary support of this work. Prevention Institute thanks The Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation for its support of this project.