This evaluation draws from various data sources to offer initial findings about the Oakland Department of Violence Prevention’s community healing and restoration (CHR) strategy. The CHR strategy aims to support families and neighborhoods most affected by violence by helping community members cope and heal in response to incidents of violence and by strengthening social capital in neighborhoods as a protective factor against violence. Activities falling under the CHR strategy include family support services, large community-building events, and targeted healing and restorative activities that foster community healing by strengthening local bonds.

What We Found

From July 2022 to December 2024, CHR service providers connected with helped organize hundreds of group events, and disbursed $465,000 in local capacity-building mini grants. The attendees of the large community events called Town Nights consistently reported positive interactions with event staff and fellow community members. However, these events in 2023 and 2024 had no detectable, statistically significant effect on local crime outcomes during the Friday nights when the events were held. This analysis was constrained by the limited duration and number of events.

What's this referring to? EX in the report quantifies services to individuals and events, not connections to families.