by Ty Davis | Wichita Reporter
As Wichita continues to grapple with gun violence, Dr. Kevin Harrison is stepping into leadership with a personal mission and strategic vision. Recently named senior program manager of Cure Violence ICT, Harrison is not only implementing a proven violence prevention model — he’s reshaping how it’s applied in the city he calls home.
“This work is 80% personal,” Harrison said. “I’ve lived through the effects of gun violence. I’ve seen it destroy families — including my own. I can’t do this without bringing that perspective with me.”
Cure Violence ICT operates by treating violence like a contagious disease — something that spreads but can be interrupted. The model uses trained violence interrupters and outreach workers to de-escalate tensions and connect high-risk individuals to life-changing services.
But under Harrison’s direction, the model is evolving with a deeper focus on local trust, creative community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
Lived Experience & Local Credibility
Harrison is a lifelong resident of Wichita’s northeast side, where he witnessed firsthand the devastation of the crack epidemic in the 1980s and ’90s. “I remember seeing the shift — families torn apart, addiction rising, and gun violence becoming normal,” he said.
His professional background is just as grounded. Harrison holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Wichita State University, where he also teaches social sciences part time. His academic work focuses on racial microaggressions, equity, and empowering marginalized communities, topics he says are no longer politically popular but are still critically important.
“My specialties are the things you can’t get funding for anymore — diversity, equity, and inclusion,” he said. “But I still teach them, and I still believe in them.”
Harrison is also known throughout the city as a musician and community presence.
He’s played saxophone at 500+ funerals across Wichita, often standing with families in their darkest moments. “That’s not something I say to impress, it’s just to show that people know me. I’ve built trust over five decades in this city, and that matters when you’re asking someone to believe in your work,” he said
New Vision, Same Proven Model
While Harrison is committed to the evidence-based foundation of Cure Violence, he’s clear that the program will carry a new flavor under his guidance.
“The model works—we’re not changing the bones,” he said. “But I’m adding relationship depth, creativity, and nontraditional outreach.”
Some of those creative approaches include:
– Cultural and faith-based programming, like the upcoming Gospel Workshop & Concert with Grammy winner Brent Jones (Sept. 18-21).
– Informal mentorship spaces, such as a community garden in partnership with ICT Tree Huggers, where youth and elders engage organically.
– The Shift, a new bi-weekly podcast that goes out into the community to discuss curing violence.
– He’s also focused on engaging groups already doing the work, like the faith-based organization Hope 4 Da Hood, founded by Beni Santibanez. While no formal partnership exists yet, Harrison has expressed interest in collaboration, citing their consistency and grassroots credibility.
A Measured Mission
Harrison is also mindful of measurement. While the program is funded through city support and backing from Wichita State’s Community Engagement Institute, long-term sustainability is key. “We’re building something that has to outlive any one person or grant cycle,” he said.
He plans to strengthen partnerships with schools, housing developments, churches, and job-training programs to build a “village of support” around at-risk residents.
Final Word
When asked what success looks like, Harrison doesn’t point to headlines or stats. “It’s when a kid chooses a trade school over retaliation,” he said. “It’s when someone sees themselves as more than a product of their environment. That’s the work we’re doing.”
For more info or to get involved, visit Wichita.gov/Violence-Interrupters-Program.
This article was republished here with the permission of: The Community Voice