FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

October 23, 2026  

Contact: Comms@theHAVI.org 

Boston, MA (October 23, 2026) – The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) announced today that its 2027 HAVI Conference will take place September 13–15, 2027, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference will bring together hundreds of violence intervention professionals, researchers, health leaders, policymakers, advocates, and community partners from across the country. Attendees will discuss proven community-based and hospital-based violence prevention strategies, deepen relationships, and explore innovative ways to advance healing in communities nationwide. The HAVI is proud to partner with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s Office, the Indy Public Safety Foundation, and the Indy Peace Hospital-linked Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) to bring this convening to Indianapolis.  

The gathering comes at a moment of challenge and possibility. As programs navigate a difficult policy and funding landscape, the field continues to identify innovative ways to strengthen its research, practice, and partnerships. The HAVI sees this conference as an opportunity to turn that foundation into lasting progress—so that more communities have access to the care and support they need to heal. 

“Across the country, violence prevention professionals are doing extraordinary work to prevent harm and help communities heal,” said Fatimah Loren Dreier, Executive Director of the HAVI. “We are proud of the progress organizations across our network have made and excited for what we can accomplish together next. Indianapolis offers a fresh opportunity to draw on the extraordinary experience in this community—from frontline professionals reaching people who need support most, to community organizations creating spaces for healing, to city and national leaders charting a path forward. Together, we can build on that progress and expand what is possible for the communities we serve.” 

The HAVI is also excited to share this moment with Cities United. The two organizations have agreed to alternate years for their national gatherings, reflecting a shared commitment to collaboration and a strong, connected violence prevention community. This coordination creates opportunities to build on one another’s work and strengthen relationships across the field. 

“We deeply admire the work Cities United does alongside communities and city leaders, and we are proud of our longstanding partnership,” said Dreier. “Alternating our national gatherings reflects our shared commitment to collaboration, learning, and action. Together, we can build on one another’s strengths and bring safety and healing to more communities.” 

Building on the shared learning and collaboration of its 2025 HAVI Conference in Kansas City, the 2027 gathering will offer opportunities to explore emerging research, exchange promising practices, and advance approaches that support survivors, strengthen the workforce, and prevent violence. 

Findings from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) underscore the scale of the change underway: reported homicide rates across 30 study cities were 51% lower in the first half of 2026 than in the same period in 2022. Experts convened by CCJ recently assessed nearly 50 possible explanations for the homicide decline. Community violence intervention (CVI) stood out, with 91% of experts agreeing that expanded CVI was a contributor to the decline. This provides an encouraging backdrop for the continued development and evaluation of CVI approaches, including HVIPs. The conference will create space to examine the evidence, learn from frontline experience, and strengthen the strategies that help communities sustain progress. 

As the HAVI’s network continues to grow, the conference will also be an opportunity to welcome its newest members and the experience, perspectives, and relationships they bring. Together, longtime and new members will help shape the field’s next steps, expanding its reach while deepening its commitment to the communities at the heart of this work. 

Additional information about the conference theme, programming, speakers, and registration will be announced in the coming months. 

About the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention

The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to advancing hospital-based and community violence intervention. The HAVI strengthens the violence intervention field by supporting hospitals, community organizations, policymakers, researchers, and frontline professionals through training, technical assistance, research, policy leadership, and national partnerships. Together with its national network, the HAVI is working to build safer communities, promote healing, and reduce violence through evidence-informed, community-centered solutions. 

Learn more at www.thehavi.org/havi-conference.