Dayton Mayor Discusses City's Violence Interruption Program

Shenise Turner-Sloss highlights community-based approach at annual Neighborhood Conference

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:34am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a spent bullet casing on a dark, textured surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the gritty realities of gun violence in Dayton.A community-based approach to addressing gun violence exposes the stark realities of the issue on Dayton's streets.Today in Dayton

Dayton Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss discussed the city's Violence Interruption Program at the annual Neighborhood Conference over the weekend. The program, which launched in 2024 as part of the Cure Violence Global Initiative, employs community members who have completed training to work on the ground and address the root causes of gun violence.

Why it matters

Dayton has faced ongoing challenges with gun violence, and the Violence Interruption Program represents the city's effort to take a more community-based approach to addressing the issue. The mayor's remarks at the Neighborhood Conference highlight the importance of engaging residents and leveraging local expertise to tackle this complex problem.

The details

The Violence Interruption Program is a collaboration between the city, Felons with a Future, and community members. Felons with a Future, a re-entry program that helps people released from prison transition back into the community, has completed training and now has 'boots on the ground' working to have conversations and address the root causes of gun violence. The city is investing close to $500,000 to provide the program with the necessary tools and resources.

  • In July 2024, the city announced the Cure Violence Global Initiative (CVG).
  • Over the weekend, the annual Neighborhood Conference was held where Mayor Turner-Sloss discussed the Violence Interruption Program.

The players

Shenise Turner-Sloss

The mayor of Dayton, Ohio, who discussed the city's Violence Interruption Program at the annual Neighborhood Conference.

Felons with a Future

A re-entry program in Dayton that has completed training and now has community members working on the ground as part of the Violence Interruption Program.

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What they’re saying

“'You cannot have a thriving community if you don't have all the necessary people,'”

— Shenise Turner-Sloss, Mayor of Dayton

“'They're energized - they're committed to doing that work. We have members from the community who are part of this initiative, who are out on the streets, who are doing the work, having the conversations, and essentially, what are the mechanisms that we are adopting for the best practices to understand and so that we are addressing the root causes of gun violence.'”

— Shenise Turner-Sloss, Mayor of Dayton

“'So there's still a lot of work that needs to be done, but we understand that we cannot solely lean on the model of CVG; it is going to take an intentional effort. Everyone has to be held accountable and responsible and how we collectively address the issues of our community,'”

— Shenise Turner-Sloss, Mayor of Dayton

What’s next

The city plans to continue investing in the Violence Interruption Program and working with community members to address the root causes of gun violence in Dayton.

The takeaway

Dayton's Violence Interruption Program represents a community-based approach to tackling gun violence, leveraging local expertise and engaging residents as part of the solution. The mayor's remarks highlight the importance of holistic, collaborative efforts to address complex public safety challenges.