Project Ujima, a community program committed to stopping the cycle of violent crimes, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of helping to reduce the number of repeat victims of violence. The celebration will be held at the Medical College of Wisconsin on September 27 at 4 p.m. in the Alumni Center.

"Ujima" refers to the third principle of Kwanzaa and is a Kiswahili word meaning "working together to make things right." A national model, it received the Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services from the Department of Justice in 2004, and cited as a "program strength" by the American College of Surgeons‚ Level I Trauma Center reviewers.

It is the first violence prevention program of its kind in the community and is a collaborative project between the Medical College, the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin, and a host of other agencies. Marlene D. Melzer-Lange, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the Medical College and medical director of the Emergency Department/Trauma Center at Children’s Hospital and the College, is program director.

"It is this spirit of cooperation and commitment by many agencies and individuals in Milwaukee that has made the program a success," says Dr. Melzer-Lange. "We’ve determined that less than one percent of program participants sustain a repeated violent injury. These are excellent results."

Since 1996, more than 2,000 adolescents with injuries due to interpersonal violence have been treated in the Emergency Department/Trauma Center at Children’s Hospital. Because violent injuries are associated with psychological trauma, poor school performance, criminal detention and repeat incidents of violence, Project Ujima established a network of services that assist with physical, psychological and social recovery.

In addition to services provided to violently injured youth, Project Ujima offers services to adult crime victims and their families. These crimes include homicide, rape/sexual assault, robbery, property crime, and domestic violence. Youth leaderships and violence prevention activities are also supported with volunteers and a donation from the Allstate Foundation. Agencies collaborating in the care of Project Ujima youth include: Marquette University Department of Psychology, the Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army, Aurora Weir Community Center and many others. Key components of the program include:

o Hospital-based services--medical care, peer counselor care and support, family and youth social and emotional assessment and a medical/psychological referral.

o Home-based services--medical follow-up, psychological screening, comprehensive youth and family social asset assessment and referral to community-based services.

o Community-based services--youth development programs, gang intervention, family development programs, housing and school support, legal assistance and job preparation and referrals including employment as a Project Ujima peer.

o Community/professional education on youth violence--monthly seminars on youth development, advocacy, participation in and support of community activities and forums.

In 2004, Project Ujima received the "Outstanding Achievement in Sustained Community University Partnerships" award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.