As founder and president of Violence Interrupters Inc., I’ve dedicated my life to preventing violence and mediating disputes in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods.

President Donald Trump’s announced intention to send the National Guard to Chicago has sparked a heated debate. While Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker view this federal intervention as overreach, it presents an opportunity for meaningful change.

The underlying problems that contribute to violence in our city are deeply rooted in poverty, inadequate housing, unemployment, underperforming public schools, an underfunded transportation system, rising health care costs, disparities in pay, and systemic racism and discrimination. These issues have plagued neighborhoods such as Austin, Englewood, Garfield Park, Lawnda

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