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In the summer of 2013, then County Commissioner Kevin Beckner pulled together a think tank of government and elected officials, faith-based leaders, community organizations, law enforcement, school officials, and more to look at how a public health approach could serve as a true violence prevention strategy. Over the next year, the collaborative increased to nearly 300 individuals working together to form the Hillsborough County Violence Prevention Collaborative.
In 2015, the collaborative was renamed Safe & Sound Hillsborough and organized under a Leadership Council with Kevin Beckner as its first chairperson.The Leadership Council is comprised of local elected policymakers who establish priorities of the organization.
The council includes the Board of County Commissioners, the Mayors of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City, the Sheriff’s Office, School District, State Attorney, Public Defender, and Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge. It also includes diverse community stakeholders serving on subcommittees that provide focus in key areas, including health care, education, community-based organizations, faith groups, public safety/judiciary, and various subject matter experts.
Safe & Sound Hillsborough LEADS with its core values. These values guide and direct our work:
Working together to build strong families, safe schools, and healthy
neighborhoods.
The Strategic Plan offers a structure to unite the efforts of those involved in criminal justice, economic development, education, community building and health. It was created with the understanding that success is derived from the collective action and alignment of all the sectors.
With this commitment to accountability, representatives from multiple committees acknowledged that while their roles might be different, all of the work is complementary and essential to a Safe and Sound Hillsborough.
We work hand-in-hand with community partners, and local leaders to create safer, healthier, and more resilient neighborhoods where families can thrive.
