TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols and various community partners announced a new initiative to help lower violence and improve safety, titled the Tulsa Community-Based Violence Intervention Initiative (TCVI).

“As we seek to tackle Tulsa’s most challenging issues, I’m hopeful for Tulsa’s future because of the incredible partners both internally and externally that we have in our work to enhance public safety in our community,” said Nichols. “TCVI is a bold step forward to reduce violence, strengthen neighborhoods, empower residents, facilitate resilience and foster hope for everyone in the city.”

The Department of Justice awarded Tulsa a $2 million grant to go towards the initiative.

“I’ve said it a number of times before,” said Nichols. “Safety is more than just about the number of officers we put on the street.”

The main goals of TCVI are to use data and intelligence to reduce crime in violence-prone areas, to invest in neighborhood revitalization initiatives and ensuring the mental health crisis needs of Tulsa citizens are met.

“We’re going to leverage local expertise and find the very best strategies, not only reducing violence as I’ve said before, but instilling hope and opportunity in neighborhoods all across this community.”

Another stated goal of the initiative is to help combat gun violence. A recent announcement released by the federal government cited local intervention programs, like TCVI, as playing important roles in preventing gun violence through their collaboration with community partners serving youth in need.

Beth Svetlic, the Assistant Director of Youth Services of Tulsa, stated her organization is proud to be a part of this new initiative.

“Youth Services of Tulsa is proud to be part of this transformative initiative to address gun violence in Tulsa. TCVI will give us the opportunity to leverage our expertise with youth and young adults and provide innovative supports through credible messengers-individuals who are from their community and understand the challenges youth face. Our credible messengers will be able to work in the community to identify needs and connect youth and families with resources like food, transportation, counseling and employment supports. This effort is about more than reducing violence—it’s a community-based approach to equipping young people with the tools they need to thrive, ultimately creating a safer, more connected Tulsa for everyone.”

Using real-time mapping, TCVI plans to identify the areas of Tulsa with the highest levels of violence, give them focused attention, and connect people there with critical resources like conflict resolution training, mental health services, employment support, and educational opportunities.

Executive Director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation Dr. Tiffany Crutcher stated, “This initiative goes beyond tackling violence—it’s about giving our community a voice in defining safety. It allows neighborhoods to take the lead, craft solutions, and build environments where families can heal and flourish. This is a vital step toward a stronger and more unified Tulsa.”

Through TCVI, Mayor Nichols and his community partners hope to lower the homicide mortality rate in Tulsa, stating they will address the disproportionately high rates among the Black community.

“This is not about enforcing anything, this is about implementing strategies that we know make communities safer,” stated Nichols.