Reduce Mortality and Gun Violence

“Partnering with Black Funeral Home Directors to Reduce Mortality and Gun Violence.” This timely and insightful article elevates a trusted, community-rooted institution as a partner in violence prevention and healing, offering pragmatic, culturally responsive strategies that speak directly to the needs of communities most affected.

We are especially proud that Dr. Christa Gilliam and Professor Devron Dickens, members of our faculty, co-authored this work. Their scholarship exemplifies the scholar-practitioner ethos we champion—linking rigorous inquiry to actionable pathways that strengthen families, elevate community voice, and inform public systems.

This article resonates with the core of Urban Social Work: advancing justice through place-based partnerships, trauma-informed practice, and policy engagement at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. By centering community wisdom and interprofessional collaboration, it models how social work can catalyze equitable, evidence-informed responses to gun violence and premature mortality in urban contexts.

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