Metropolitan Peace Initiatives

What Metropolitan Peace Initiatives does

Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, operating as a division of Metropolitan Family Services since its founding in 2016. MPI convenes Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), a coalition of 15 community violence intervention (CVI) organizations delivering street outreach, case management, victim advocacy, behavioral health, legal aid, and youth interventions across 28 Chicago neighborhoods with the highest levels of gun violence. The organization does not sell a product or charge for services; instead, its business model rests on securing philanthropic foundation grants and public-sector funding (city, county, state) and redistributing coordination, training, and capacity-building support to its coalition partners.

MPI's flagship institutional asset is the Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA), launched in 2018, which delivers intensive 18-week training programs in street outreach, case management, and victim services and has graduated more than 800 CVI professionals through Spring 2026, including a new Management and Supervision Fellowship cohort aimed at mid-level leaders. The organization expanded its geographic reach in 2023-2025 to Lake County (Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion) through a partnership with the Lake County Office of Violence Prevention and Lake County Peacemakers. MPI is explicitly not a technology company: its core stack consists of social service delivery, professional training, and coalition coordination, with no AI/ML products, APIs, or proprietary software platforms. Distribution is via the CP4P coalition model, community events (Light in the Night, Game Nights), and the Illinois Peace Project, with revenue derived from grants, donations, and public-sector contracts rather than commercial pricing.

Name

Metropolitan Peace Initiatives

Legal name

Metropolitan Family Services

Website

https://metropolitanpeaceinitiatives.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Metropolitan Peace Initiatives is a Chicago-based nonprofit division of Metropolitan Family Services that convenes a 15-organization coalition (CP4P) and trains CVI practitioners through the Metropolitan Peace Academy to deliver violence intervention services across 28 high-violence Chicago and Lake County communities, funded by philanthropy and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Violence Intervention Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civilian Protection & Stabilization Operations (BPADAFAF), Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH)

Keywords

• Community violence intervention
• Violence prevention training
• Nonprofit community services
• Street outreach programs
• Workforce professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Funding: MPI relies on philanthropic investment from foundations and private donors. Estimates suggest approximately $1 billion has been invested in CVI work over the last decade across city, county, state, and private sector.
2. Government Grants and Public Sector Funding: Public sector funding from City, County, and State governments supports CVI operations. MPI's work is supported by taxpayer dollars and public safety investments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) is a Chicago-based nonprofit and division of Metropolitan Family Services that delivers community violence intervention (CVI) services by convening the Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) coalition of 15 partner organizations across 28 high-violence Chicago neighborhoods and by operating the Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA), an 18-week professional training program for CVI workers. It also provides direct services including street outreach, behavioral health, case management, victim advocacy, legal aid, youth interventions, and community healing events.

Product overview

Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) is a division of Metropolitan Family Services that convenes community-based and citywide organizations to help heal Chicago's communities experiencing the highest levels of gun violence. MPI operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on Community Violence Intervention (CVI): the Metropolitan Peace Academy provides professional training for CVI workers; Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) is a coalition of 15 organizations serving 28 neighborhoods; and direct services include street outreach, behavioral health, case management, victim advocacy, and legal aid. Youth-specific interventions and community events like Light in the Night and ALSO Game Nights extend the reach into vulnerable populations. The organization is not a technology platform and does not offer AI-powered or software-based products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA): Multi-disciplinary training facility designed to professionalize the CVI workforce through intensive 18-week programs in street outreach, case management, and victim services.
• Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P)
• Light in the Night

Products and services

• Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) An 18-week competency-based professional training program that prepares community violence intervention (CVI) practitioners across street outreach, case management, victim services, and supervision. Targets aspiring and current CVI workers seeking recognized credentials and competency-based instruction grounded in trauma-informed, restorative, and nonviolent methodology.
• Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) A coalition of 15 community-based organizations convened by MPI to coordinate community violence intervention across 28 high-violence Chicago neighborhoods. Provides partner organizations with shared methodology, convening infrastructure, and cross-organization coordination.
• Street Outreach Frontline violence interruption and community-based outreach services delivered through CP4P partner organizations to individuals at highest risk of involvement in gun violence in Chicago and Lake County neighborhoods.
• Behavioral Health Services Mental health and wellness services for community members and violence victims, delivered through partner organizations as part of MPI's holistic CVI approach.
• Case Management Ongoing case management services that connect clients to wraparound supports such as housing, employment, and behavioral health after a violence-related incident.
• Victim Advocacy Direct advocacy and support services for victims of gun violence and their families, delivered through CP4P partner organizations and trained MPA-certified victim advocates.
• Legal Aid Services Legal support services for community members and violence victims, provided as part of MPI's holistic response to gun violence.
• Youth Interventions Prevention and intervention programming targeted at young people in high-violence Chicago neighborhoods, delivered through CP4P partner organizations.
• Management and Supervision Fellowship Advanced fellowship for CVI supervisors and emerging leaders, providing management training as a credentialed pathway beyond frontline MPA training.
• Light in the Night and Community Events (including ALSO Game Nights) Community-facing events held in high-violence neighborhoods (such as Light in the Night and ALSO Game Nights) that build social cohesion, celebrate culture, and provide restorative community spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% reduction in homicides in Chicago in 2025 (416 murders vs 587 in 2024), lowest since 1965
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Chicago CREDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny), founded by Arne Duncan, is a key CVI organization that works with individuals most at risk of gun violence. Chicago CRED co-hosted the Art of Peace 10-Year CVI Anniversary Celebration with MPI and other coalition partners.
• Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INVC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026INVC, founded by Teny Gross, provides street outreach, victim services, case management, re-entry, workforce, and behavioral health services. INVC co-hosted the Art of Peace celebration and collaborated with MPI on various community events.
• Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026PSPC, led by Esther Franco-Payne, brings together more than 50 foundations and funders to support CVI work. PSPC co-hosted the Art of Peace 10-Year CVI Anniversary Celebration and advocates for sustained CVI funding.
• Northwestern University - Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science (CORNERS)supportingTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2026CORNERS is Northwestern University's research center focused on neighborhood research. They co-hosted the Art of Peace 10-Year CVI Anniversary Celebration and contribute research expertise to the CVI field.
• Lake County PeacemakerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake County Peacemakers serve Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion with violence interruption services. Nine Peacemakers completed MPA training programs, and five participated in the Management and Supervision Fellowship. Leadership provided by Tierra Lemon, Director of Lake County's Office of Violence Prevention.
• Lake County Office of Violence PreventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lake County Office of Violence Prevention, led by Tierra Lemon, serves as an intermediary for the Lake County Peacemakers, garnering support and funding, building capacity, and helping maintain program sustainability. This office brought Peacemakers to MPA for training.
• Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALSO serves Humboldt Park community and hosts regular Game Night events through CP4P. ALSO is one of the 15 CVI organizations in the CP4P coalition serving high-violence neighborhoods.
• UCAN ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAN Chicago is a CVI organization providing case management and youth services. Case Manager Dwayne Appling participated in Art of Peace events and represents the organization in the CVI coalition.
• Breakthrough Urban MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakthrough Urban Ministries serves East Garfield Park through CP4P, providing street outreach, behavioral health services, and workforce development. The organization has seen gun violence trending down in its service area.
• Public EquitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Equity launched an Integrative Wellness Program for CVI staff, incorporating evidence-based medical and therapeutic practices to empower staff and reinforce their overall well-being.
• Project H.O.O.D.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject H.O.O.D. hosts Light in the Night community events and was mentioned at the Art of Peace celebration as a community partner working to reclaim public spaces.
• Chicago Police DepartmentsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCPD works with CVI organizations under a 'professional understanding' that outlines complementary but independent roles and rules of engagement. CPD Director of Community Policing Glen Brooks Jr. participated in City Club of Chicago panel discussion hosted by MPI.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Family Services: Metropolitan Family Services is MPI's parent organization, a large Chicago-area human services nonprofit with programs spanning early childhood, behavioral health, and family services. As parent, MFS is the closest broad-incumbent peer providing administrative and financial infrastructure to MPI.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is a national community development financial institution that funds and supports CVI and violence prevention efforts in Chicago and other cities. LISC channels philanthropic and government capital to community-based safety organizations, overlapping with MPI's funder network.

Direct peers

• Roca: Roca is a Massachusetts-based CVI organization serving Boston, Chelsea, and Springfield with street outreach, cognitive behavioral therapy, and workforce development for highest-risk young men. Roca operates the same evidence-based CVI model as MPI but in a different regional market.
• Advance Peace: Advance Peace operates the Peacemaker Fellowship program in multiple California cities, providing stipends, mentorship, and life coaching to individuals at highest risk of gun violence. Advance Peace is a direct CVI peer to MPI with a similar high-intensity fellowship model.
• Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INVC): INVC is a Chicago-based CVI organization co-founded by Teny Gross that provides street outreach, victim services, case management, and behavioral health. INVC is a core CP4P coalition member and most direct operational peer to MPI within the same geography.
• Newark Community Street Team: Newark Community Street Team is a New Jersey-based CVI organization that deploys credible messengers for violence interruption and community healing. The organization operates a similar coalition-style model to MPI in a different Northeast urban market.
• Chicago CRED: Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny), founded by Arne Duncan, works with individuals at highest risk of gun violence through employment, mentorship, and behavioral health. CRED is a core CP4P coalition partner and one of MPI's closest operational peers in the Chicago CVI ecosystem.
• UCAN Chicago: UCAN (Uhlich Children's Advantage Network) is a Chicago CVI organization providing case management, youth services, and trauma-informed care. UCAN is a CP4P coalition member and direct peer to MPI within Chicago's violence intervention landscape.
• Cure Violence (Acclivus): Acclivus (formerly Cure Violence Global) is the most prominent national CVI organization, using a health-based approach to interrupt shootings and retaliation. Both MPI and Acclivus deploy street outreach workers trained in violence interruption, making Acclivus a direct CVI peer operating nationally versus MPI's regional focus.

Others

• Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC): PSPC is a Chicago-based funder collaborative led by Esther Franco-Payne that convenes 50+ foundations supporting CVI work. PSPC is a coalition peer to MPI in coordinating the broader CVI funding ecosystem, but operates as a funder intermediary rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MPInitiatives
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MetropolitanPeaceInitiatives
• Facebookfacebook.com/MetropolitanPeaceInitiatives
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metropolitan-peace-initiatives
• Instagraminstagram.com/metropolitanpeaceinitiatives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan Peace Initiatives