One Step Further - Gate City Coalition II: The Gate City Coalition Program (GCC2) employs a Cure Violence-like health model, viewing violence as a learned behavior that can be prevented through disease control strategies. GCC2 enhances the livability and safety of high-risk neighborhoods in Guilford County by implementing violence prevention activities and fostering community cohesion through youth mentoring and sustainability initiatives.  

GCC2 implements a three-prong approach to violence prevention by:

• Detecting and interrupting transmission of violent acts,  
• Providing ongoing behavior change and support to those at highest risk, and   
• Mobilizing the community to change norms that allow, encourage, and exacerbate violence in chronically violent neighborhoods to healthy norms that reject the use of violence.   

GCC2 focuses on neighborhoods in the Merritt Drive/Overland Heights Drive area and the Hickory Trails and Hampton Homes public housing communities.  

The Guilford County Division of Public Health collaborates with the Gate City Coalition CURE Violence Program to implement violence prevention activities in priority areas with an identified need. Key services include violence interruption and support services through community outreach activities and community conversations. 

In 2025, the Gate City Coalition underwent significant organizational changes. The program was restructured early in the year to enhance operational efficiency, clarify internal processes, and better align activities with community-identified needs.

New staff were hired and focus areas were refined to better align with community needs, with increased emphasis on violence prevention, youth engagement, and community outreach. Specifically, in June 2025, the program hired a new Program Director, supporting the development of a more professionalized program structure and reinforcing a culture of ethics, accountability, and continuous improvement. Staff participated in ongoing professional development, including conflict resolution, mental health training, First Aid, CPR, AED certification, and violence interruption and intervention training to strengthen response capacity.

Throughout 2025, the program actively engaged communities through partnerships with churches, nonprofit organizations, housing groups, and other local stakeholders. Outreach efforts included community canvassing, information sessions, flyer distribution, and virtual engagement through social media and online events.

The program continued core CURE Violence activities, including violence interruption and monitoring, immediate response following shooting incidents, mediations, follow-up support, and community vigils. Additional supports included referrals for housing, mental health services, and job placement assistance, reinforcing a comprehensive violence prevention approach. Gate City Coalition staff will work with GCDPH to report performance measures.