The City of Kansas City announced today that on July 16th, it will begin accepting applications for a newly created “Violent Crime Programs Coordinator” position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with the hiring process expected to be conducted in August. The role will be a contract position and report directly to the City Manager.
“Kansas City’s violent crime doesn’t have one cause, and it doesn’t have one solution,” said Mayor Sly James. “That means we need collective effort. The Violent Crime Programs Coordinator’s work will be to ensure the advocates, law enforcement, researchers and activists who are working to make our community safer are accounted for in the strategy to reduce violence. And there’s lots of work already being done to address systemic violence. But that work can’t take place in silos, it has to be collaborative.”
This is a specialized position that will serve as a liaison in the Office of the City Manager to assist in efforts to reduce crime within communities in Kansas City, Missouri. The objectives are focused on collaboration with varied stakeholders including law enforcement, neighborhood leaders, organizations, elected officials and City Staff in order to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the Citizen’s Task Force on Violent Crime.
Councilwoman Jolie Justus, who served as Chair for the Citizen’s Task Force on Violence, said the group’s final report reflects two clear sentiments. “First, as a community, we believe these recommendations are an essential component of reducing violent crime and they can complement the work of law enforcement and advocacy groups. Second, a lack of coordinated strategy has created a patchwork of violence prevention efforts when what we need is a cohesive, coordinated city-wide approach.”
That coordinated approach to reducing violent crime is essential to the new position’s success. While organizations, community groups, institutions and law enforcement each represent critical work being done to build awareness, keep neighborhoods safe, or provide social or behavioral services – the greatest opportunity for catalytic change is through a shared commitment to success.
“Keeping residents safe is our number one priority and that is a full-time job, however it takes more than just police to address issues leading up to violent crime,” says Councilwoman Alissia Canady, who serves as Chair of the Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committee. “We know we have to act intentionally to curtail the violence affecting our City. This new Coordinator will serve an important role – helping to communicate and align the stakeholders, resources, and collaborative work necessary to reduce violent crime.”
The Citizen’s Task Force on Violence presented the Mayor with a set of recommendations for Kansas City to pursue aimed at reducing violent crime, including policy measures, research efforts, and community-based solutions. Creation of the Violent Crime Programs Coordinator was a priority recommendation key to facilitating the balance of the Task Force Report.
Learn more: http://kcmo.gov/humanresources/careers-2/
Phone: 816-513-1903 | Email: jobs@kcmo.org
Twitter: @CityofKCMOJobs | Facebook: www.facebook.com/CityofKCMOJobs
To view the report & recommendations of the Citizen’s Task Force on Violence: kcmo.gov/violencetaskforce/final-recommendations-to-mayor/
