At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while gun violence surged across the country, a quiet revolution was unfolding in several California cities—led not by law enforcement, but by communities investing in redemption, healing, and hope. Advancing Peace is the powerful chronicle of that revolution.
Co-authored by renowned urban public health scholar Jason Corburn and Advance Peace founder DeVone Boggan, this groundbreaking book introduces readers to an effective, replicable approach to reducing urban gun violence. Drawing from the real-world successes of the Advance Peace in cities like Richmond, Stockton, and Sacramento, the book offers a compelling blend of data, public health analysis, and deeply human stories from those at the center of firearm conflict.
What sets Advancing Peace apart is its unapologetic focus on redemption and relationship. It doesn’t view firearm offenders as problems to be removed, but as people to be engaged, healed, and empowered to lead change. The authors detail how a healing-centered, non-punitive model—fueled by intensive mentorship, life coaching, and community investment—can reduce shootings, increase public safety, and restore dignity to communities long abandoned by traditional systems.
This book is a call to action for the next generation of public servants, urban planners, public health leaders, and criminal justice reformers. It confronts the nation’s legacy of systemic racism and economic exclusion while presenting a hopeful and evidence-based path forward: one rooted in love, accountability, and community healing.