We Matter Gun Violence Prevention Initiative

Working in close partnership with the City of Richmond, CDP supports two cohorts of the We Matter Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI). Participants are students enrolled at Lucille Brown, Martin Luther King, Jr., and River City Middle Schools who have been impacted by gun violence.

Sessions focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and explore topics such as coping with grief and loss. Counselors also offer tailored individual and group support. We Matter represents an invaluable method for proactively mitigating future violent acts, as SEL contributes to protective factors such as an increased sense of belonging and reduced bullying and emotional distress.