In 2003, the Village of Maywood had 21 homicides.

A call for action and assistance went out from various community stakeholders which resulted in Maywood CeaseFire starting operations on March 15, 2004 as a community partner of UIC-Department of Public Health, Chicago Project for Violence Prevention.

CeaseFire utilizes best practices in the public health model to end shooting violence;

• Community Mobilization, Public Education – organizing, educating and mobilizing the community to be an active participant in ending street violence; providing information on individual and community safety. Maywood CeaseFire has distributed more than 30,000 pieces of information offering alternatives to high-risk street and criminal behavior.
  
• Clergy Partnership – collaborations with churches and faith based programs to mobilize community, provide safe havens for positive youth activities and an added resource to get information to residents about street violence
  
• Criminal Justice Collaboration – collaboration with local police departments in community roll calls, encouraging residents to be active in MAPS in mock trials in local schools, outreach to probationers and parolees with violent backgrounds (excluding sex-offenses) to deter incarceration and recidivism
  
• Community Outreach -- Working directly with individuals who are at risk to commit acts of violence by offering alternatives through intensive case management.

Highlights

March 15, 2004 - Maywood CeaseFire begins operation.

2004- Maywood ends the year with 11 homicides.

2005- Maywood CeaseFire suspends operation from 1/28/05 until 6/16/05
      Majority of staff continues to be involved-volunteering their time and energy to keep clients away from street crimes. 
Maywood ends the year with 7 homicides

2006- 2/17/06-Facilitated “Community Response Forum – Neighborhood United Methodist Church 
      4/06 -Organized “Safe Street Clean Streets” –a month long activities collaborating activities of the Village of Maywood 
      and other community organizations, including the first Maywood Gun Buy Back. 
Maywood ends the year with 10 homicides

2007-2008- CeaseFire units across the State of Illinois suspend activity on 8/1/2007 due to funding.

2009-Maywood CeaseFire reopened on 4/1/2009
      Formal Linkage was established with the Village of Bellwood and Broadview.
      3/15/09-Program resumes activity.
      5/25/09-Violence Prevention Advocacy-Hospital Response Project starts at Loyola Hospital.
      From 9/09/09-2/10.10, staff continued to work with reduced hours and salary to keep program operational
      until all state funds were released.
Maywood ends the year with 2 homicides

From 3/15/04 to 4/1/2010 – Maywood CeaseFire has provided case management services to 435 individuals.