Project Safe Aurora, a community violence prevention coalition, gathers monthly to review local gun violence data and trends, discuss community engagement efforts, and develop strategies to help prevent gun violence in Aurora. Our goal is to ensure our work is community-informed, culturally responsive, and reflective of the needs and experiences of Aurora residents.

As part of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) initiative, local conveners are asked to develop and present an annual Community Safety Action Plan (CSAP). The CSAP outlines community-driven strategies and priorities designed to reduce violence and improve safety.

Through collaboration with community members, service providers, schools, law enforcement, and other local partners, Project Safe Aurora has identified and presented the following key violence prevention strategies to the IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention

Restorative Practices is an evidence-informed approach that focuses on building and strengthening relationships within schools, organizations, and communities. By creating positive social and emotional environments, restorative practices can help improve mental well-being, increase a sense of belonging, reduce conflict, and strengthen connections between individuals and their communities.

Restorative practices provide students, educators, and community members with tools to communicate effectively, manage conflict, take accountability, build healthy relationships, and respond to challenges in constructive ways. Research has shown that students who feel connected to their school community are less likely to engage in violence and other high-risk behaviors, making school connectedness an important component of violence prevention.

During coalition discussions, the West Aurora School District Restorative Practices Coordinator shared the district's experience implementing restorative practices and the positive outcomes they have observed, including reductions in truancy, in-school suspensions, bullying, fights, and other disciplinary incidents.

Project Safe Aurora recognizes that many young people face challenges both inside and outside of school. As technology continues to shape how people interact, opportunities for meaningful peer-to-peer and student-to-staff connections can become limited. Creating a strong sense of community within schools can help students feel supported, connected, and empowered to seek help when they experience conflict, crisis, or other challenges.

By fostering positive relationships and providing supportive spaces for students to learn and grow, restorative practices strengthen social-emotional skills, encourage healthy conflict resolution, and create safer and more supportive learning environments.

As a result, expanding restorative practices within East Aurora School District was identified as a key violence prevention strategy in our Community Safety Action Plan. 

The Integrated Referral and Information System (IRIS) is a free online platform that helps social workers and counselors connect students and families to community resources throughout Kane County. Through a network of more than 250 partner organizations, IRIS provides access to services such as mental health support, food assistance, housing resources, financial assistance, healthcare, and other essential services.

The platform allows providers to search for resources based on an individual's needs, while also providing information on service availability and wait times. Rather than requiring families to navigate complex systems on their own, IRIS enables social workers and counselors to make direct referrals to participating organizations, reducing barriers to accessing support.

IRIS also features a closed-loop referral system that allows providers to track referral outcomes and confirm whether individuals were successfully connected to services. This helps ensure students and families receive the support they need while addressing underlying challenges that can contribute to violence, such as unmet mental health needs, housing instability, food insecurity, and financial stress.

For these reasons, implementing IRIS within East Aurora School District was identified as a key strategy in Project Safe Aurora's Community Safety Action Plan.

As part of Project Safe Aurora's Community Safety Action Plan, East Aurora High School journalism students are leading a community resource campaign called PSA – Shine the Light. The campaign aims to raise awareness of available resources in Aurora, build trust between community members and service providers, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.

Through storytelling and creative media, students will highlight local organizations, programs, and services in ways that are engaging and relevant to their peers, families, and community members. Students will play a leading role in shaping the campaign's message and content, ensuring it reflects the voices, experiences, and priorities of Aurora youth.

Youth engagement is a key component of violence prevention. By giving students the opportunity to lead this initiative, the campaign promotes positive youth involvement, strengthens community connections, and creates opportunities for young people to become advocates for the well-being of their schools and neighborhoods.

Through PSA – Shine the Light, students are helping foster a more informed, connected, and supportive community while promoting awareness of the resources available to Aurora residents.

Be the Light is an annual community event hosted by Project Safe Aurora that brings together residents, families, youth, and community organizations for a day of connection, resources, and engagement. The event provides an opportunity for community members to learn about local programs and services that support health, safety, education, and overall well-being.

Through resource booths, family-friendly activities, food, music, and giveaways, Be the Light creates a welcoming space where residents can build relationships with organizations and learn about opportunities available throughout Aurora. By increasing awareness of community resources and strengthening connections between residents and service providers, the event supports violence prevention efforts and helps foster a safer, healthier, and more connected community.

At its core, Be the Light is a reminder that when community members, organizations, and partners come together, we can create positive change and help light the way toward a brighter future for all.

In 2025, Project Safe Aurora hosted the Be the Light: Anti-Violence Community Picnic at the START Program in Aurora. The event brought together community members and 12 local partner organizations to share resources, build connections, and promote violence prevention through community engagement.

Families had the opportunity to connect with organizations offering programs and services that support youth, health, education, and overall well-being. To help students prepare for the upcoming school year, Project Safe Aurora and its partners distributed free school supplies, including Nike backpacks, folders, notebooks, pens, highlighters, scientific calculators, and HP Chromebook laptops.

The event served as an opportunity to strengthen community partnerships, increase awareness of available resources, and create a welcoming space where residents could connect with the support systems available throughout Aurora. 

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