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Pittsburgh City Council

$250,000 allotted for violence prevention in six high schools this fall.

Written by Amy Whipple

Violence prevention and intervention services will continue at six Pittsburgh Public high schools this fall.

Pittsburgh City Council voted during its July 1 committee meeting to move forward with a one-year, $250,000 agreement with Operation Better Block. 

The Homewood-based nonprofit runs the Safe Passages Youth Violence Prevention Program, which began in 2021 with a $3 million state grant. It uses a violence-as-disease public health model to holistically address youth violence.

Operation Better Block trains student ambassadors in peer-based violence interruption techniques to use in and out of school. They receive a $200-per-month stipend from the organization.

Cornell Jones, assistant director for community affairs, said 64 students participated in the program last year. “We’re actually tapping into their genius,” he said. “[They’re] able to give us information that helps us to be able to be more effective in what we’re doing community-wise.”

The school district has not yet authorized funding to continue the program now that the state grant is complete.

“We do need Pittsburgh Public Schools to participate,” said Council President R. Daniel Lavelle of the Upper Hill District. “It’s not sustainable if the city has to pick up that entire tab to maintain the program moving forward.”

Council Member Khari Mosley of Point Breeze North said that youth violence isn’t limited to just school or the city. “I think this is a step of us understanding the importance of our role in ensuring public safety,” he said.

Lavelle said the money from the city should cover the program for about six months.

Connections to this story

Elected officials:
R. Daniel LavelleKhari Mosley
Topics:
Public Safety & EMSEducation
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · June 30, 2026
Sources:
Resolution 2026-0680 — authorizing the Mayor and the Director of Public Safety to enter on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh into a…

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