ABOUT US
Acclivus, Inc. is community health organization, focusing on the health and well-being of individuals living in Chicago’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
Acclivus uses an intentional social network to serve vulnerable individuals, primarily those from communities that are disproportionately impacted by compounding barriers to health and success.
Acclivus provides resources and support to assist a person with personal and professional growth. The goal is for each person to thrive as they overcome social challenges that may include, but are not limited to: chronic exposure to violence and trauma, poverty, a criminal background, disproportionately high rates of serious health conditions, and limited formal education.
In partnership with the Jane Addams Center for Social Policy and Research, Acclivus provides programs and services to address trauma, decrease health disparities, reduce incarceration, enhance educational opportunities, and increase employment options for individuals and their communities.
HOW DID ACCLIVUS BEGIN?
Acclivus, Inc. was founded by LeVon Stone Sr. and Dr. Joseph Strickland, two individuals who have worked collaboratively for over two decades on improving community health, safety & well-being, transforming justice involved individuals, and enhancing opportunities for disadvantaged individuals to allow them to enter the mainstream. The organization entered a period of dormancy as Mr. Stone was promoted into a high position within Cure Violence (formerly CeaseFire), encompassing oversight of all program operations for the state of Illinois. As Cure Violence withdraws from direct service provision in 2019 [learn more], key leadership and the Hospital Response Initiative migrated to Acclivus, Inc. to ensure consistent services for victims and families in need.
KEY INITIATIVES
Acclivus, Inc. focuses on improving population health by:
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Reducing instances of community violence
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Transforming the lives of individuals living in risk of community violence perpetration/victimization
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Improving outcomes for violent injury victims and their loved ones
Acclivus provides both hospital-based and community-based violence prevention services, servicing a network of level-1 trauma hospitals and performing critical coordinating and centralizing immediate violence intervention across the Chicago metro area. Aligned with community health work, Acclivus hires, trains, and manages violence interrupters and case managers with indigenous roots to the communities they serve. Through the combination of lived experience and skills training, staff are experts at preventing and rerouting violent mentality and associated behavior, leading to reduction in violent events. Acclivus, Inc. believes strongly in restorative justice and therefore hire, train, and support staff to leverage knowledge of their communities so as they transform their lives, they also transform their communities.
VISION
To provide individuals the opportunity to reach their full human potential regardless of their past misdeeds, disappointments, or challenges influence by internal and external causes.