The Greening Effect: Reducing Gun Violence and Creating Safer Neighborhoods
In this episode, we’re diving deep into the powerful and transformative work happening in Indianapolis. Our focus? How creating beautiful spaces can do more than just improve aesthetics—they can also reduce crime, foster community unity, and create safer neighborhoods. Joining us is Jeremy Kranowitz, President and CEO of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. Jeremy shares his inspiring journey from battling exercise-induced asthma as a child to leading impactful environmental initiatives in Indianapolis. We’ll explore groundbreaking research with the University of Michigan showing a 12% reduction in gun violence thanks to greening efforts and discuss strategies for community engagement and collaboration. We’ll also touch on the challenges and successes experienced along the way. Stay tuned as we uncover the story behind these beautiful transformations and the vision driving Jeremy’s leadership. Get ready to be inspired and informed!
“When Keep Indianapolis Beautiful goes in and makes one of these vacant lots into a green space, there is a statistically significant 12% reduction in gun violence in particular. And that positive impact can be felt within a half-mile radius of the location of the green space.”— Jeremy Kranowitz, President and CEO of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Show Notes:
00:00 Transformed polluted water-inspired environmental career and leadership.
05:33 Community engagement through greening efforts and research.
08:41 Green spaces reduce gun violence by 12%.
13:33 Training kids for home invasion, now transforming.
16:00 “Collaborative efforts improving Indianapolis through community partnership.”
20:06 Building trust for green infrastructure in neighborhoods.
22:38 Indianapolis initiative sees reduced service calls in neighborhoods.
24:52 Partnership, persistence, impact in vulnerable neighborhoods.
28:15 Stay informed and keep doing beautiful things.
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful: https://www.kibi.org
Gun Violence Reduction Study Analysis: https://www.kibi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/KIB-GreenSpace-Gun-Violence-Reduction-Study.pdf
Great American Cleanup®: https://kab.org/our-signature-programs/great-american-cleanup/
Register for the #152PickUpChallenge: https://kab.tfaforms.net/f/152IndividualReg
About Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB):
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) is an environmental and community nonprofit with a mission to engage diverse communities to create vibrant public places, helping people and nature thrive. KIB is an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., a national organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and environment in American communities.
KIB works with neighbors, volunteers, and the City of Indianapolis to plant trees and native landscapes, create community spaces, pick up litter, and engage students of all ages in Indianapolis.
Each year, KIB supports nearly 900 community projects with over 15,000 volunteers. For over 40 years, we’ve partnered with neighbors, the public sector, and Indianapolis community groups and businesses to achieve our vision of a beautiful city.
For more information about Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, visit www.kibi.org or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @kibiorg.
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
McCall Vrydaghs
Keep America Beautiful®