<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=25kBy8_1Gp8zNI800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=25kBy8_1Gp8zNI800" width="1250" height="800" ></figure><p>You’re never off the clock in gun violence prevention work, said Negus Vu, president of The People’s Action, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of low-income Detroit residents. “It’s a 24-hour, around-the-clock job.”</p><p>Detroit hit a historic low in homicides in 2025, and Vu said that’s no accident. It’s the result of “thousands of hours” of community violence intervention workers being present to de-escalate conflicts, build trust, and invest in those especially likely to find themselves in violent situations.</p><p>Vu spoke to The Trace for our Violence Interrupted series, a project that explores the realities of community-based violence prevention and intervention work in the wake of major funding cuts by the Trump administration. </p><p><i>This transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.</i></p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RgbBk4HkalI?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p><b>Negus:</b> Well, 2025 was historical. We had the most reduced homicides we’ve seen since 1964, with 165 homicides. We haven’t been under 200 murders in I don’t know how long. Although one or two murders are too many, it’s nothing to be so celebratory about because obviously we’ve had a bad experience when it pertains to violence, especially amongst the youth. </p><p>You know, June, July, August, we’ve seen what appeared to be an uptick in violence amongst the youth. Some that were very notable, 14, 13-year-olds. It was very rough. It mainly happened on the east side of Detroit, specifically in the neighborhood that I’m in. </p><p>I’m on Eight Mile: from Eight Mile to Curtis, from Burt Road to Humble. And just in that course of time, we’ve been able to de-escalate so many different incidents where it could have led to serious violent issues. We invested over thousands and thousands of hours into the community, specifically these people who have the highest propensity to put themselves in situations where it can lead to violence. </p><p>So, we were successful in doing that because we’ve had people that’s from that neighborhood that was sincere, that really took the time to really invest into these kids. I mean, when I say time, it’s a 24-hour, around-the-clock job. It’s not something that you just punch in the clock, and then you go home, and then you turn off your phone, and then you enjoy your life, and then you wait till tomorrow when you got to come back in. No, you have to be on call 24 hours. You have to invest in these kids. You have to keep them occupied. More importantly, with young adults as well, you have to provide them with opportunities for them to better their life — a job, education — and we’ve been successful in doing that.</p></div></body>

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You’re never off the clock in gun violence prevention work, said Negus Vu, president of The People’s Action, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of low-income Detroit residents. “It’s a 24-hour, around-the-clock job.”. Detroit hit a historic low in homicides in 2025, and Vu said...

He’s Never Off the Clock. But That’s How the Work Gets Done.

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You’re never off the clock in gun violence prevention work, said Negus Vu, president of The People’s Action, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of 

He’s Never Off the Clock. But That’s How the Work Gets Done. - NewsBreak

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He’s Never Off the Clock. But That’s How the Work Gets Done.

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