Join us in congratulating the Joliet Township Government’s Violence Prevention Council Coordinator LeShae Hudson, MHS, and the Racial Equity Impact Assess League (REIAL) for winning the Collaborative Excellence in Prevention Award by Prevention First. The award will be presented at Prevention First’s Connections in Prevention Conference on September 26-27 at the Marriott Chicago Naperville.

According to Prevention First: “The Joliet Township Violence Prevention Council has been honored as one of our Collaborative Excellence in Prevention awardees for its work on the Racial Equity Impact Assessment League (R.E.I.A.L.). Under the leadership of LeShae Hudson, the R.E.I.A.L. has made an extraordinary impact across the State of Illinois, playing a vital role as one of the Greater Illinois Violence Prevention Council Coordinators under the Reimagine Public Safety Act. Their mission is to reduce gun violence in Joliet and surrounding communities by fostering collaboration among organizations focused on gun prevention, mental health, and youth development.

In just its first year, The R.E.I.A.L. brought together over 20 organizations that had previously worked in silos, creating a powerful alliance for change. This collaboration was put to the test following the tragic January 2024 incident involving Romeo Nance, where The R.E.I.A.L. swiftly responded by mobilizing their coalition to provide critical services—ranging from mental health support to funeral services—for the affected community. This tragedy also led to the creation of the “Emergency Response Protocol,” a new process that unites organizations to respond rapidly and efficiently to gun violence incidents.

The R.E.I.A.L.’s groundbreaking strategies and commitment to sharing best practices have garnered statewide attention, including from the UIC Gun Violence Consortium. Their efforts to mentor other communities in gun violence prevention, in partnership with the Office of Firearm Violence, have sparked changes in municipalities across Illinois. The R.E.I.A.L.’s willingness to share knowledge and strategies has created a ripple effect, giving other communities the tools to reduce gun violence through collaborative action.

Congratulations to The R.E.I.A.L. for their incredible work and for leading the charge in creating safer communities across Illinois!”