Peace Portraits, presented by the Illinois Peace Project, is a digital storytelling initiative that celebrates community leaders whose work is advancing peace and safety across Illinois. The series honors six individuals who exemplify the principles of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) through their leadership, service, and commitment to reducing violence, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating opportunities for residents to thrive.
Launched in June 2026 during Gun Violence Awareness Month, the campaign combined video storytelling, photography, editorial content, and a public awards ceremony to elevate the voices and accomplishments of the honorees. Following the launch event, individual Peace Portraits were released weekly across digital platforms, extending the campaign’s reach and engagement throughout the month.
The initiative was designed to address a critical challenge in the violence prevention field: increasing public awareness and understanding of the people and organizations working every day to build safer communities. By highlighting authentic stories of impact and leadership, Peace Portraits helped humanize the work of CVI practitioners, celebrate local changemakers, and foster greater recognition of community-based violence prevention as an effective and essential public safety strategy.
Through a compelling blend of storytelling, visual media, and community recognition, Peace Portraits amplified the contributions of Illinois peace-builders and elevated the broader conversation around violence prevention, healing, and community transformation.
The Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) and the Illinois Peace Project (IPP) developed Peace Portraits as a statewide storytelling campaign designed to elevate the voices of community leaders working to create safer, healthier communities through Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and related peace-building efforts. The strategy centered on pairing compelling visual storytelling with a coordinated digital media, and community engagement campaign to increase awareness of both the honorees and the broader field of CVI.
To bring the vision to life, IPP partnered with 5 by 12 Films and Kinney Photography to produce a series of high-quality video profiles and accompanying photo stills that captured the personal stories, leadership journeys, and community impact of six Peace Portraits honorees. The creative approach emphasized authenticity, allowing each leader to share their own experiences and perspectives on advancing peace in their communities.
A multi-channel distribution strategy was implemented to maximize visibility and engagement. IPP launched dedicated landing pages for each honoree, hosted videos on its YouTube channel, and promoted content across Facebook, Instagram, and X. The campaign was further amplified through IPP’s email newsletter, directing audiences to the digital content and encouraging ongoing engagement.
To expand reach, Metropolitan Peace Initiatives and Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) supported the campaign through weekly blog posts, newsletter features, and social media promotion across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, and LinkedIn. Additional amplification was provided through coordinated social media efforts with 5 by 12 Films, campaign judges, Peace Portraits honorees, and their respective organizations, leveraging multiple networks to extend the campaign’s reach across Illinois and beyond.
Earned media was a key component of the strategy. IPP conducted targeted outreach to local and regional media outlets to generate awareness of the campaign and highlight the impact of community-based violence prevention efforts. Media coverage, including a feature on ABC 7 Chicago, helped introduce new audiences to the stories of the honorees and the importance of community-led approaches to public safety.
To officially launch the initiative, IPP hosted a Peace Portraits film screening, and awards ceremony during Gun Violence Awareness Month in June 2026. Held at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago, the event drew a capacity crowd of organizational partners, CVI advocates, community leaders, and family and friends of each honoree. The gathering celebrated the individuals featured in the campaign while creating an opportunity to elevate the importance of community-led violence prevention efforts and reinforce the critical role of local leadership in advancing peace across Illinois.
Peace Portraits exceeded its goal of elevating the visibility of Community Violence Intervention leaders and organizations across Illinois through compelling storytelling and strategic media engagement. By combining video profiles, photography, editorial content, a public recognition event, and earned media coverage, the campaign introduced new audiences to the individuals working every day to reduce violence and strengthen communities.
The initiative generated significant audience growth and engagement across Illinois Peace Project platforms. During its June 2026 launch, Peace Portraits received more than 12,000 combined video and content views, while driving a 146% increase in website traffic. The campaign also expanded the organization’s digital reach, contributing to an 80% increase in Facebook followers and an 8% increase in Instagram followers. Content was further amplified through traditional and social media channels, including a feature on ABC 7 Chicago, the city’s top-rated television station, helping extend the campaign’s reach to audiences across the region.
Beyond the metrics, Peace Portraits helped shine a spotlight on often-unseen leaders advancing peace and safety in communities throughout Illinois. The campaign elevated authentic stories of impact, increased awareness of community-based violence prevention strategies, and strengthened public understanding of Community Violence Intervention as an effective and essential approach to public safety.
