PHILADELPHIA, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro visited West Philadelphia on Friday to highlight his administration’s increased investment in community-based violence prevention initiatives. At the heart of the visit was a stop at Beyond the Bars, a nonprofit that supports young people through music and leadership development — a program that has grown significantly thanks to state funding.
Backed by more than $530,000 in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Beyond the Bars has expanded from 40 to 56 sites since 2023. The funding has helped the group extend its trauma-informed “Ecosystem of Support” program to schools, shelters, clinics, and diversion centers throughout Philadelphia.
Shapiro praised the nonprofit as a model for community-driven public safety solutions. “Every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe,” he said. “Programs like Beyond the Bars show that when we invest in our young people and community-based solutions, we break cycles of violence and build stronger communities.”
The Governor’s visit comes as his administration continues a broader push for public safety reform. Since taking office, Shapiro has increased state support for violence prevention programs by 40%. In total, Pennsylvania has directed $85 million in VIP grants to more than 130 local initiatives, with $42 million going to Philadelphia-based projects.
Additional state-level investments include:
- $600 million in public safety resources
- $11.5 million to launch the BOOST after-school and violence reduction program
- Over $3 million for law enforcement recruitment
- $5 million increase to the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund
- Funding for four new cadet classes to train more than 800 Pennsylvania State Police officers
The Governor also reinstated the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention and has pushed to close gun loopholes and combat illegal firearms trafficking.
The results, according to the administration, have been measurable. In 2024, gun violence in the Commonwealth fell by 42%, gun deaths declined by 38%, and violent crime dropped nearly 12% compared to 2022.
Beyond the Bars Executive Director Matt Kerr emphasized that the program’s growth would not have been possible without state support. “When you invest in systems of compassion and community,” he said, “we can live in a more peaceful and just world that our young people deserve.”
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