MTC Launches Community Violence Intervention Technical Assistance Fellowship
The Michigan Transformation Collective (MTC) is proud to announce the launch of the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Technical Assistance Fellowship. The ten-month program, launched in August 2024, trains local street outreach workers to provide vital technical assistance to individuals, groups, and organizations focused on community violence intervention throughout Kalamazoo County. The fellowship program is a direct response to the increase in gun violence in the county.
The fellowship represents a groundbreaking initiative for Michigan, building on the success of the national CVI Certificate Program. Fellows will work with nationally recognized technical assistance trainers to develop skills to address a significant gap in CVI resources within our community.
Ultimately, fellows will return to Kalamazoo with essential resources for evidence-based community violence strategies in the region, which include street outreach, hospital-based violence intervention, and comprehensive wraparound services. Fellows will also be certified to administer CVI training and the Certificate Program, which currently doesn’t exist in Kalamazoo, to help expand our local capacity to respond to community violence.
By focusing on proactive prevention efforts, strengthening community capacity, and expanding support services for violence survivors, we aim to promote a culture of violence prevention as a way of life in Kalamazoo County. This initiative is a vital aspect of our overarching goal to equip individuals with conflict prevention, de-escalation, and proactive intervention skills in local schools and neighborhoods.
The fellowship is part of a greater pilot program to provide a local CVI Certificate Program for an initial group of up to 20 Community Violence Interventionists. The pilot aims to implement evidence-based CVI strategies, explicitly focusing on street outreach, hospital-based violence intervention, and wraparound services. MTC chose to concentrate on these specific approaches based on extensive community feedback from listening sessions conducted over the past two years.
The first three years of the pilot will concentrate on enhancing the capacity of local community violence intervention efforts, increasing community awareness, and applying transformative practices and diversion programs for youth and adults. Local law enforcement and community partners will work closely with these frontline individuals who are most affected by violence within the community. One of MTC’s long-term goals is to ensure these trained individuals can effectively collaborate with Bronson, the region’s only Level One Trauma Center, in the aftermath of violent incidents.
Thank you to our four fellows, Dominica Sims, Alejandro Rodriguez, Dontray Hemphill, and Yafinceio ‘Big B’ Harris, for their commitment to our community and ARP Community Violence Interventions for funding this program. Together, we can cultivate the local expertise needed to address violence in our communities and create a safer, more supportive environment for all residents of Kalamazoo County.
For more information about the fellowship program and how to get involved, please visit our website or contact us directly.
Get to know our fellows!
Dominica Sims is a dedicated advocate for social change and the Executive Director of Dominica’s Promise, a nonprofit organization based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With a profound commitment to empowering underserved communities, particularly women and at-risk youth, Dominica leads efforts to break the cycle of generational poverty through holistic support and education.
Dominica’s journey, which includes 15 years of incarceration, has shaped her mission to uplift others facing similar challenges. Her experience fuels her passion for promoting female empowerment, especially in mental health, healthcare access, and economic independence.
As a role model and advocate, Dominica’s story is a testament to the power of second chances. Her unwavering dedication inspires countless individuals to rise above their circumstances, pursue their dreams, and build brighter futures.
Alejandro Rodriguez was born in Brownsville, TX, and moved to Kalamazoo at the age of six due to a family tragedy. Following unfortunate life circumstances, Alejandro engaged in a gang lifestyle that led him to incarceration, which then led him to a journey of faith.
Upon his release in 2013, Alejandro connected with a former gang rival who, like him, embraced a new lifestyle through faith. He began volunteering with Urban Alliance and graduated from the Momentum program, hosted by his former rival and new friend, in 2017. His desire to give back and change lives has led to the creation of a nonprofit, CHANGED in Christ, where he serves as the Executive Director.
Alejandro is currently a Program Manager for Urban Alliance. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, attending church, and hosting events in the community. He encapsulates his humanitarian work in his own words: “I don’t sit with the lost and broken because I think I can fix them; I sit with them because I understand that, in a way, I am broken too.”
Dontray Hemphill is the Director of Youth Development and Community Engagement with Bent not Broken. He is a dedicated community leader and activist.
Dontray has helped dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by advocating for youth going through the judicial process and mentoring youth who may be battling with school issues.
He continues to empower young individuals involved in the criminal justice system and their families to support a more restorative and just juvenile legal system. Outside of work, Dontray enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and fishing.
Yafinceio ‘Big B’ Harris was born and raised in Osceola, Arkansas, but has called Kalamazoo home for several years. B’s life was shaped by both struggle and survival. His journey to self-discovery took him through challenging paths of violence and limited opportunities that led him to Michigan.
When he entered the mental health field, it sparked a passion for wellness and community healing that remains his focus today. B has dedicated himself to helping people rise by addressing their traumas and creating growth opportunities. His work is rooted in the belief that strong communities are built by lifting one another and fostering wellness from within.
His roles include Co-Founder of Peace During War, Connections Coordinator at Urban Alliance Kalamazoo, Group Violence Intervention Street Outreach team member, and Street Outreach Advisor for the Kalamazoo Blueprint for Peace.