SAFE Task Force
SAFE (Safe Alliances For Everyone) task force is an anti-violence initiative. We work to lower violence in our communities. We partner with community organizations and businesses to help support this goal. Together, we work to solve issues 15- to 24-year-old residents are facing. We focus on gun violence, lack of pro-social opportunities, and mental health issues. Commissioner Milinda Ysasi currently serves as Chair for the task force; both City staff and community partners serve in this program.
The SAFE Task Force Establishes Four Goals
- Share information on what exists about neighborhood violence
- Support programs based on research to fill existing gaps
- Advocate for community empowerment and voice
- Promote city policy through recommendation
"While the vision for SAFE was conceived by municipality leadership, the work of SAFE is the direct result of the collective wisdom, personal investment, and shared passion among resident leaders eager to do the heavy lifting required to spark social change.”
– Former Commissioner Senita Lenear
SAFE Pitch and Highlight Night
Could your organization use up to $10,000 in funding to supercharge your efforts to reduce violence in our community?
Each year, the SAFE Task Force actively seeks out partnerships with passionate individuals and organizations dedicated to this crucial cause. We are eager to discover innovative, community-based solutions that can truly make a difference. Our mission is to highlight organizations that are making a significant impact and to help fund meaningful violence reduction projects and programs. For each funding cycle, we will select up to five organizations to receive this vital support.
Pitch and Highlight Night 2025
2025 Pitch Partner Program Photos
Breaking Chains Building Crowns
Dream Garden: Let's Talk KING
African Resource Center: Safe Youth - Your Life. Your Choice.
ADT Logistics: Drive Your Future
Media Links
A Pitch Perfect Partnership for Technical Assistance + Grant Readiness
SIDE Strategies
Professional Nonprofit Training Partner
SIDE Strategies is a consulting firm that provides nonprofit training and organizational capacity-building. Through its partnership with the City, SIDE Strategies provided our SAFE Pitch partners with individualized support to strengthen different areas critical to running our partner programs, such as program planning, budgeting, grant management, and measuring outcomes. This training helps SAFE-funded organizations build the skills and systems needed to help them effectively carry out their programs, compete for additional grants, and make a lasting impact in the community.
PEACE Pillars
We investigated into the root causes for violence in our communities. We were able to identify 5 important tasks to establish peace in our city.
- Prevention Investment
- Eliminate Violent Acts
- Activate Economic Opportunities
- Community Engagement
- Effect Positive Change in Public Institutions (Local, County & State)
Full Report
To learn more about our PEACE Pillars and our goals for implementing them in our neighborhoods, please read pages 31-37 in our SAFE Report and Recommendations.
Requests For Proposals (RFPs)
A Request for Proposals (RFP) is a process used by the City to solicit proposals for projects, services, or other identified needs. Some RFPs are developed specifically through the SAFE Task Force process, while others may address broader community needs or City priorities.
SAFE Task Force RFPs seek proposals to address topics drawn from the inaugural SAFE Report. P.E.A.C.E. pillar-related RFPs can be issued up to two times a year. RFPs are developed following education and Task Force conversation around chosen topics. A statement of work/need is typically linked back to the SAFE priorities/recommendations. A call for RFPs will be broadly broadcast to seek proposals that might affect those areas of need. A process for evaluating those proposals and making funding recommendations has been developed.
Current RFP Project
Gun Violence Memorial Art Installation - 2026
The SAFE Task Force will allocate a total of $20,000 for investment into a Request for Proposal to contract with an Artist for the creation of a 3-D Sculpture /Art Installation.
Project Overview: The City of Grand Rapids is seeking proposals from qualified artists or artist teams to design and fabricate a memorial artwork honoring lives impacted by gun violence in all its forms—including but not limited to interpersonal violence, domestic violence, street violence, and unjust shootings. This memorial aims to hold space for the weight of these losses, offering the community a place for collective reflection, healing, and remembrance.
Find More Information Here
Past Projects from RFPs
Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project - Project Focus: Workforce Development
- Organization Winner
Our Community's Children - Project Focus: Workforce Development
- Organization Winner
Realism Is Loyalty - Project Focus: Mentorship
- Organization Winner
Download Final Report(PDF, 300KB)
Task Force Members
-
Commissioner Milinda Ysasi (Chair)
-
Senita Lenear
-
Chris Becker
-
Marian Barrera-Young
-
Shannon Harris
-
Larry Johnson
-
Kirby Killingham
-
Captain Patrick (PJ) Baker
-
Eric Brown
-
Latesha Lipscomb, JD (City Liaison)
-
Chris McGuire (City Staff Support)
Additional Resources
- SAFE Report and Recommendations (March 2015)
- Grand Rapids Police Department SAFE Biannual Update (2017)
- Parks and Recreation SAFE Biannual Update (2017)
- Human Resources SAFE Biannual Update (2017)
- 2020 Gun Buy Back
- SAFE Update 2021
- Comptroller's Internal Audit
- SAFE Summer Violence Prevention Campaign (2026)
- SAFE Summer Community Kits (2026)
