Show-Me State Times

The first meeting of the new Save Lives Now! Advisory Council will be held on Thursday, May 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Florissant Valley Branch of the St. Louis County Library, located at 195 S. New Florissant Rd, Florissant, MO 63031. The meeting is open to the public.

The Save Lives Now! Advisory Council will be chaired by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page and includes members representing law enforcement, community service providers, government leaders, community stakeholders, and residents. The council plans to meet at least quarterly.

This introductory meeting marks the next step in forming a regional initiative to address high rates of violent crime in parts of St. Louis City and St. Louis and St. Clair counties. The initiative, called Save Lives Now! (SLN), aims to reduce shootings and homicides by 20% within three years through coordinated use of focused deterrence, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) services, and street outreach tactics. These anti-violence strategies have been effective in other metropolitan regions such as Chicago, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

The May 23 Advisory Council meeting will include a presentation detailing these strategies, ongoing coordination and progress of the SLN plan, an updated statistical review of street violence and homicides in the region, and information about the overall scope and function of the Advisory Council.

For more information: ewgateway.org/save-lives-now.