Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

The Black and Brown Collective for Community Solutions to Gun Violence: thebbcollective.org

The HAVI (Health Alliance for Violence Intervention): thehavi.org

REDI Chicago: crimelab.uchicago.edu/projects/readi

Cure Violence Global: cvg.org

Safe Streets Baltimore: monse.baltimorecity.gov/safe-streets

Connect with Dr. Shani Buggs: LinkedIn Profile | Email: [email protected]

Timestamps

[00:22] Season 3 Kickoff: Professional transitions and returning to the mission.

[01:03] Introduction to Dr. Shani Buggs: Why she refused to "pick a lane" in her career.

[02:12] The Aurora Shooting: A life-changing moment that led Shani to Baltimore.

[04:40] Dealing with Imposter Syndrome: Navigating credentialed spaces as a practitioner.

[07:32] The Career Shift: Leaving corporate Atlanta for public health and violence prevention.

[10:14] Baltimore vs. Aurora: Witnessing the contrast in how the world views different tragedies.

[13:50] Elevating the Narrative: Moving beyond gun control rhetoric to find real solutions.

[16:55] Holding the Story: The responsibility of translating community pain into policy.

[19:15] Partnership and Resilience: Drawing strength from her partner, D’Angelo Mack.

[25:11] The Rise of CVI: How Community Violence Intervention became a codified field.

[27:53] The $5 Billion Meeting: Inside the advocacy that secured historic federal funding.

[37:21] The First 30 Days: Why the best leadership begins with "getting proximate" and listening.

[41:50] An All-Hands Approach: Breaking government silos to coordinate public safety.

[45:10] Investing in Hope: The link between financial pressure, the lottery, and recklessness.

[47:37] The Endangered Species Narrative: How hopelessness robs young Black men of their future.

[51:30] Leadership is Like Milk: Preparing the next generation through the Black and Brown Collective.

[56:22] A Message to the Field: Why every story—and every life—has equal value.