Today, Hunter was joined by Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy of Force Detroit a Community Violence Intervention organization in Detroit. For decades, Detroit was known around the country for being the poster child for the decaying state of U.S. manufacturing. With this reputation as a decaying city came a reputation for high rates of violent crime, but over the past few years, Detroit has seen some of the lowest rates of homicides, gun crimes, and violent crimes it has in 60 years. Zoe joins the podcast to explain how through community interventions, and not policing, the city has provided a model for alternative solutions to violence.

Guest

Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy, Executive Director, Force Detroit, Michigan

Resources:

Force Detroit

https://forcedetroit.org/

More About Zoe

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/man-convicted-of-murder-turns-his-life-around-to-stop-violence-in-the-community/

https://www.instagram.com/dujuanzoe/

More About Remarkable Crime Rate Reductions in Detroit

https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-partnerships-result-another-historic-drop-violent-crime-2024-fewest-homicides-1965-shootings

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/detroit-reports-historic-drop-in-violent-crime-2024/

https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-ends-2023-fewest-homicides-57-years-double-digit-drops-shootings-and-carjackings-thanks-dpd

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/detroit-homicide-drop-2024-1.7423641

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/khalil-alhajal/2025/01/22/detroit-murder-rate-violent-crime-lansing-neighborhoods/77587006007/

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected]

Instagram

@PublicDefenselessPodcast

Twitter

@PDefenselessPod

www.publicdefenseless.com

Subscribe to the Patreon

www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast

Donate on PayPal

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ

Donate on Stripe

https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN

Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show!

https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home