Working to prevent acts of targeted violence and terrorism in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) supports programs that ensure safe, healthy, and resilient communities. By building partnerships, offering grant funding, and providing technical assistance, CP3 works to create a culture of violence prevention in the United States.
CP3’s approach is based on the principles of violence prevention developed in the public health community over the past three decades. It focuses on increasing protective factors — or strengths — within our communities and classrooms, among peers and families, and with individuals to decrease the likelihood that violence is viewed as a legitimate means of addressing a grievance, expressing hate, or advancing an ideology.
With activities that support community resilience and foster individual healing, the goals of many art-based programs and arts therapies go hand-in-hand with CP3’s mission.
CP3 supports arts-focused organizations with programs that help K-12 students learn conflict resolution and promote non-violence through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program. With TVTP funding, the Northern California School of the Arts (Nu Art Education) offers classes that integrate theater arts and conflict resolution strategies for students in Sacramento.
Columbia University used a TVTP grant to design an interactive program focused on storytelling for educators and educational institutions to activate educator voices and amplify protective factors against targeted violence.
The Invent2Prevent program, supported by CP3, inspired creative projects from high school and college students that utilize the arts and humanities to build resilience and promote supportive spaces. For example, Ohio Dominion University created a project called Shelve the Hate: a Toolkit for Action that gives trusted adults and students specific steps to take in the fight against online mobilization and targeted firearm violence. SHELVE stands for See, Hear, Evaluate, Learn, Voice, and Empower — a call to action to raise awareness about preventing violence.
Also through the I2P, the Louisiana Youth Advisory Council wrote “Thao, Pradeep, and Carolina,” a children’s book meant to expose kindergarten students to new cultures. Each character in the book introduces their unique cultural holiday by talking about their favorite traditions and how they celebrate.
The North Panola Career and Technical Center created Peer No Pressure, an initiative dedicated to providing students, ages 12-18, with safe and supportive spaces to minimize bullying and peer pressure through peer-led discussions, engaging skits, and a mentorship program.
In addition to decreasing the likelihood of violence, violence prevention programs and activities create more resilient communities with greater access to the services, institutions, and positive relationships that decrease the psychological and social harm that communities face if an act of targeted violence does occur.
At CP3, we believe violence is preventable and everyone has a role to play. We encourage all arts and humanities leaders and organizations to get involved. Consider applying for a TVTP Grant, participating in a Prevention Forum, connecting with your CP3 Regional Prevention Coordinator, exploring resources for your community, and signing up for CP3 emails to stay informed.
Hala Furst is the Associate Director for Strategic Engagement and Policy Implementation at the Department of Homeland Security Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3). In this role she is the program manager for Invent2Prevent and leads CP3’s efforts to engage with federal agencies and national stakeholder organizations to increase targeted violence and terrorism prevention capacity nation-wide. Ms. Furst holds a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law and a B.A. in theatre from the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Furst worked with a variety of arts and humanities organizations, encouraging stakeholder communities to address societal problems through creative expression.
Disclaimer: References to non-federal entities are for information purposes only. Inclusion of these resources does not constitute an official endorsement of the entity, its work, its services, or the content of its statements by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or Federal Government. These TVTP Grant and Ivent2Prevent project examples are not exhaustive and were chosen because they articulate the intersection between the arts and violence prevention efforts. Learn more about all Invent2Prevent projects by visiting the program website and TVTP grant programs by visiting the grant recipients and grantee results sections of the CP3 website.