Grants for youth gang prevention available

Alberta communities can now apply for grants to prevent youth involvement in gangs.

The Community Mobilization Grant will allow communities to develop plans that help stop youth from getting involved in gangs and support youth who want to leave gangs.

“Gang violence has no place in our communities,” Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General said. “These grants will mobilize communities and help strengthen our efforts to prevent, disrupt and tackle youth gang activity in Alberta.”

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and community-based coalitions and networks with a legal entity, as well as Indigenous communities.

This grant will support communities by allowing them to:

• Develop a strategic framework for gang violence prevention that includes an environmental scan and a multi-sector approach that focuses on vulnerable youth.
• Coordinate and engage stakeholders, and develop program plans.
• Bring stakeholders together for a coordinated, collaborative approach.
• Raise awareness of the issue of youth involvement in gang activity.

A total of $400,000 in funding is available, with communities eligible for up to $50,000 per grant. Communities are encouraged to apply online.

The grant is part of the work Alberta is doing to support the Government of Canada’s initiative to Take Action against Gun and Gang Violence.

The application deadline is July 20.

Arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca