Black Health Summit In Action: Circle of Brotherhood Hosts Community Conversation

What a powerful day in Miami! In advancing the Health Foundation of South Florida’s Black Health Summit In Action, the Circle of Brotherhood hosted a timely and powerful full-day community conversation with national leadership in the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA).

CVILA celebrated its third graduating class right here in Liberty City. This national collaborative aims to prevent gun violence, interrupt cycles of retaliation, and offer real alternatives through community-based leadership and trusted messengers. Circle of Brotherhood serves as a lead partner in this effort here in South Florida, working directly with those most at risk to stop violence before it happens.

Brother Lyle Muhammad, Executive Director of the Circle of Brotherhood, not only hosted the day’s event—he exemplified its purpose. A proud alumnus of CVILA’s inaugural cohort, Brother Lyle has been a national voice for advancing community-rooted, trauma-informed strategies to prevent violence and promote healing. His leadership continues to position South Florida as a powerful model within the national CVILA movement.

What makes this work even more significant is that the Circle of Brotherhood and the Health Foundation of South Florida represent the only local CVI model in the country where health-related philanthropy is directly funding a community-based CVI strategy, because both partners recognize what public systems often do not: community violence is a public health crisis.

This partnership is not just funding frontline solutions; it’s a clear example of what it means to invest in community-led strategies that are deeply rooted, highly trusted, and very effective in advancing health equity in Black and Brown communities.

As our President and CEO, Loreen Chant, reminds us, “You can’t address health without addressing the conditions that harm it—like violence, trauma, and chronic stress.” At the Health Foundation, we view community violence not just as a safety issue but as a public health crisis—one that demands prevention, healing, and systems change.

That’s why we’re committed to investing in grassroots efforts like the Peacemakers Program. These programs embody the upstream, equity-focused approach needed to interrupt cycles of harm and create lasting change.

This convening is an example of the Black Health Summit In Action, a powerful approach that brings the annual summit’s mission beyond the stage and directly into the communities where real challenges and solutions are taking place. By centering grassroots leadership and community-designed solutions, these activations put health equity into motion—on the ground, in partnership, and with lasting impact.

It was a robust lineup of community voices and changemakers, from institutional leaders to grassroots advocates.

The program featured:

• Remarks from Chief of Police Manuel Morales, who highlighted the department’s youth cadet program;

• Messages from Marta Torres and Nadine Rolle of Citrus Family Care Network, emphasizing the role of foster care in preventing youth violence;

• Insights from Dr. Roger McIntosh, Ph.D., a neuroscientist who spoke on the neurological impacts of trauma; and

• A data presentation by Dr. Tisa Thomson, Ph.D., LCSW, a transformation strategist and researcher, who shared findings from recent community safety work.

As part of her presentation, Dr. Thomson shared findings from a Community Safety Survey conducted in Fall 2024 in partnership with the Circle of Brotherhood. The survey gathered input from more than 200 residents about neighborhood safety, crime prevention efforts, and police-community relations.

Findings revealed strong confidence in the Circle of Brotherhood’s initiatives, with 93% of respondents rating their crime prevention work positively, though perceptions of police response were more neutral. Residents identified systemic challenges, such as gang activity and poverty, as major contributors to safety concerns.

These community-driven insights offer critical guidance for shaping future violence prevention strategies—and further validate the importance of investing in community-led, public health-centered approaches to address safety and well-being.

Sabrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, brought a powerful presence and grounding words, reminding everyone of the human toll of gun violence and the continued fight for justice.

At the heart of it all were the men and women of the Circle of Brotherhood—Reentry Leaders, Youth Success Coaches, and Peacemakers, including 2025 Health Foundation Inspiring Women of Health honoree Shameka Pierce. They spoke with passion and purpose, sharing firsthand experiences and casting a collective vision for healing and safety rooted in community strength.

The Health Foundation is proud to support this work through its investment in the Peacemakers Program. This community-based initiative employs credible messengers to mediate conflict, build trust, and intervene in the lives of youth and adults affected by violence. This investment reflects the Foundation’s broader strategy to address violence, trauma, and toxic stress as root causes of health disparities.

The day’s insights didn’t stop there. Dr. Roger McIntosh, a neuroscientist and associate professor at the University of Miami, was a featured speaker. Dr. McIntosh, a previous presenter at the Health Foundation’s Black Health Summit, continues to deepen our understanding of how chronic exposure to stress, violence and trauma biologically impacts Black communities.

“When we talk about gun violence, we can’t separate it from the chronic stress and trauma that shape the brain, especially in youth,” shared Dr. McIntosh. “Healing doesn’t start in a clinic. It starts in the community—through trust, relationships, and environments that support resilience.”

He walked the audience through the neurobiological effects of toxic social environments, emphasizing that prevention must go far beyond policing. Instead, he called for addressing the factors that reduce the perceived social threat that ultimately leads to gun violence, fostering environmental safety, supportive family dynamics, and positive peer influences.

Dr. McIntosh also outlined protective factors (see graphic below) identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) elements that, when present across multiple areas of a young person’s life, help buffer against violence and trauma.

These insights reinforced the value of programs like Peacemakers, where consistent mentoring and trusted relationships do more than intervention; they heal. These frontline efforts are not just social programs; they are protective forces against the lifelong impact of trauma. By supporting youth, advocating for systemic change, and building networks of care, the Circle of Brotherhood is actively reshaping what community safety looks like.

The Black Health Summit In Action continues to spotlight the intersections of trauma, public health, and systemic inequity—bringing resources, conversations, and solutions directly to where they’re needed most.

This day in Liberty City was not just an event. It was a reminder that healing is possible, prevention is possible, and the path forward is rooted in community.