Gary Slutkin, M.D. an epidemiology and biostatistics research professor in UIC's School of Public Health, has focused his attention on a specific kind of epidemic—the epidemic of violence. After spending ten years overseas with the World Health Organization working on other epidemics in developing countries, Slutkin launched the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention in 1995. The project is a public health initiative that is working to develop a systematic plan to reduce violence in Chicago's most violent neighborhoods.

The project's focus is on helping communities strengthen themselves by providing technical assistance, guiding materials, financial support, and training. Outreach workers, some of them ex-gang members, meet with people on the streets urging them to call when they need help to prevent a shooting, and offering them assistance in obtaining jobs or other alternatives.

Chicago Project for Violence Prevention has produced extremely promising results through its collaboration with law enforcement, training and support of clergy and youth outreach workers, launch of a massive public education effort, and community mobilization. Four of the highest crime neighborhoods have seen between 45 percent and 70 percent reductions in shootings since the project began. Slutkin now is looking for corporate and civic support to expand citywide, as there are over fifteen neighborhoods that have requested help to reduce violence.

In 2001, Slutkin was awarded the U.S. Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in the development and support of community partnerships designed to address public safety within a community. Slutkin works as a consultant to WHO and UNICEF, and his work overseas has been highlighted recently in Studs Terkels' new book Will the Circle be Unbroken?