VIP
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VIP stands for Violence Interruption Program — a city-funded, neighborhood-rooted initiative hosted by the Hickman Mills Prevention Coalition. It is designed to do exactly what its name says: interrupt violence before it escalates into injury or death.
Violence Interruption Program
The Core Mission
The VIP program operates on a simple but powerful premise: if we can get young people to trust us enough to tell us when something is wrong — or when something is about to happen — we can intervene.
That trust is the foundation of everything the program does.
VIP is not a single program — it is a coordinated strategy that reaches young people across multiple environments and through multiple channels. The goal is to create a surrounding presence of safety and support so that no young person feels alone in navigating danger.
Interrupt
Step in before conflict escalates to violence. Show up — whether alone or alongside law enforcement — to de-escalate situations that could end in a shooting or death.
Prevent
Work proactively in schools and the community to build skills, change mindsets, and create environments where young people choose constructive paths over destructive ones.
Connect
Build authentic, trusted relationships with young people and their families so that they see VIP staff not as authority figures, but as advocates who genuinely care about their lives.
Types of Engagement
VIP staff engage with young people across a range of settings and situations. Understanding these different types of engagement helps us track outcomes, report to funders, and ensure we are reaching young people at every point where support is needed.
Club VIP (School)
Twice-weekly structured meetings in schools. The most consistent, relationship-building touchpoint for youth.
Saturday Monthly Meeting
All-hands monthly gathering for training, processing, and community cohesion across school sites.
Mediation
Structured conversations between parties in conflict, or proactive discussions when a situation is brewing.
Intervention
On-call response when violence is imminent. Staff show up — sometimes with law enforcement — to de-escalate and protect.
Advocacy
Supporting youth in navigating systems, attending community events, or accessing resources — wherever they need a champion.
Community Events
Outreach events that raise visibility, build neighborhood cohesion, and draw young people into the VIP circle.
