The Dallas Violence Interrupter Partnership hit the street September 5th in an effort to prevent disruption of neighborhoods.

The program was a recommendation of Mayor Eric Johnson’s Safer Communities Task Force in January as one of four approaches the city could take to reduce the high rate of violent crime in the city aside from the work of police.  The initiative is powered by Urban Specialists.

“We believe that those who are closest to the problem are most prepared to handle it. We have individuals who have graduated – what we call the OGU Movement — those who have graduated from the process and those who have an innate knowledge of the issues,” Jahwar said.