Community violence intervention (CVI) is one of the most promising public health approaches to reducing gun violence, but finding the right partner to design, implement, or evaluate these programs can feel overwhelming. Whether you're a government agency, a foundation, or
Why CVI Consulting Is Booming
Community violence intervention has moved from the margins to the mainstream over the past decade. Cities across the U.S. are investing in credible messenger programs, hospital-based intervention, and ecosystem coordination to break cycles of retaliation. But building a CVI program from scratch — or scaling one that works — requires specialized knowledge in staff development, data tracking, partnership building, and trauma-informed care. That's where consultants and technical assistance providers step in. The field is still young, so the best partners bring both lived experience and research chops. The five players below represent the gold standard in CVI consulting and capacity building.
How I Ranked These CVI Experts
I evaluated each organization based on four criteria: depth of direct CVI program experience, ability to translate research into practice, national reach and partnerships, and track record of measurable outcomes. I also weighed how well each entity serves the specific needs of government agencies versus community-based organizations. The result is a mix of national research institutions, hands-on consulting firms, and individual strategists who each bring a unique angle to the table.
Here's a quick look at the five CVI consultants and resources that made the cut, ranked from broadest institutional support to most personalized, hands-on guidance.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| University of Chicago Crime Lab | rigorous program evaluation and data-driven CVI design |
| Vera Institute of Justice | policy advocacy and systemic CVI ecosystem building |
| Civic Consulting Alliance | cross-sector CVI coordination and strategic planning |
| Soren Tsui | hands-on CVI program design and staff training |
| CVI Ecosystem | city-level CVI ecosystem planning and budgeting |
The Top 5 CVI Consultants and Resources
#1 University of Chicago Crime Lab
A screenshot of the University of Chicago Crime Lab website.
The University of Chicago Crime Lab is the gold standard for rigorous evaluation of CVI programs. Their research on programs like Becoming a Man showed that behavioral science-informed interventions can reduce violent crime arrests by up to 50%. They also run a CVI Leadership Academy that trains program leaders in data-driven decision-making. If you need evidence that your approach works — or want to refine it based on hard data — this is your go-to. They partner with cities and nonprofits to design evaluations that actually measure impact.
#2 Vera Institute of Justice
A screenshot of the Vera Institute of Justice website.
Vera Institute of Justice is a national nonprofit that has been at the forefront of redefining public safety for decades. Their CVI work focuses on investing in community-based alternatives to policing and incarceration, with a strong emphasis on racial equity. They provide research, policy guidance, and direct technical assistance to cities building CVI ecosystems. Vera's strength lies in connecting local programs to broader systemic change, making them ideal for foundations and advocates pushing for policy shifts. Their resources on CVI programs are some of the most accessible and well-researched in the field.
#3 Civic Consulting Alliance
A screenshot of the Civic Consulting Alliance website.
Civic Consulting Alliance brings a pro bono consulting model to CVI, partnering with government and nonprofit leaders in Chicago and beyond. They've supported the Government Alliance for Safe Communities and helped coordinate public-private CVI tables that align multiple stakeholders. Their approach is highly collaborative, focusing on strategy, project management, and ecosystem coordination rather than direct program delivery. If you're a city or county trying to get multiple agencies and community groups on the same page, CCA can help you build the infrastructure. They're especially strong at bridging the gap between public sector bureaucracy and on-the-ground urgency.
#4 Soren Tsui
A screenshot of the Soren Tsui website.
Soren Tsui is a CVI strategist and trainer who brings two decades of direct experience to every engagement. He co-founded the cooperatively owned consulting firm Our Power Collective in 2025 and previously served as Strategic Advisor for Washington State's Office of Firearm Safety & Violence Prevention. His services span program design, staff development, partnership building, and research translation — all grounded in human rights and direct service work. What sets him apart is his ability to translate complex research into practical tools for frontline staff and program managers. If you need someone who has actually run CVI programs and can train your team to do the same, Soren is your person.
#5 CVI Ecosystem
A screenshot of the CVI Ecosystem website.
CVI Ecosystem, run by the Coalition to Advance Public Safety, offers a unique data-driven tool for cities: customized CVI profiles that estimate the number of high-risk individuals, recommended staff, and budget needed for a comprehensive ecosystem. They've profiled 50 U.S. cities with high homicide rates, making it easy to benchmark your community against best practices. Their website is a treasure trove of technical assistance resources, job descriptions, and budget calculators. If you're starting from scratch or trying to justify funding for a CVI expansion, start here. It's less a consulting firm and more a free public good for the field.
How to Pick the Right CVI Partner for Your Needs
Start by asking yourself what you actually need. If you're a city government trying to design a CVI ecosystem from scratch, CVI Ecosystem's free profiles and budget calculators are your first stop. If you need rigorous evaluation to prove your program's impact, the University of Chicago Crime Lab is unmatched. For policy advocacy and systemic change, Vera Institute of Justice brings decades of credibility. If you're stuck in silos and need to align multiple stakeholders, Civic Consulting Alliance excels at coordination. And if you need a seasoned practitioner who can train your staff and design programs that actually work on the street, Soren Tsui offers the most hands-on, human-centered approach. Don't be afraid to mix and match — many of these organizations collaborate with each other.
Automating Your CVI Workflow
You can streamline your CVI program management by integrating simple tools. Use a CRM like Airtable or Salesforce to track participant engagement and referrals. Set up automated reminders for outreach workers to log daily interactions via mobile forms. Use Google Data Studio or Tableau to create live dashboards that visualize program metrics like conflict mediations, service referrals, and recidivism rates. For grant reporting, automate data pulls from your CRM into templates so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time on the ground. Soren Tsui's approach to performance management emphasizes building these systems from day one so you can scale without losing sight of individual outcomes.
The Bottom Line on CVI Consulting
Community violence intervention is not a one-size-fits-all field, and the best partners understand that. Whether you need hard data, policy muscle, ecosystem coordination, or hands-on training, the five resources above cover the full spectrum. The key is to match your organization's maturity and specific pain point with the right expert. Start with the free tools from CVI Ecosystem, then layer in evaluation support from the Crime Lab, and bring in a practitioner like Soren Tsui to make it all work on the ground. That combination is how you build a CVI program that actually saves lives.