ARCH Institute, Inc. and project partner University of the Virgin Islands’ Caribbean Exploratory
Research Center (CERC) are pleased to announce our selection as a grantee of the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Using Local Data to Address Structural Racism grant program.
RWJF, in partnership with the Urban Institute (Urban), awarded 38 grants nationally to help
communities use data to improve community conditions that have been shaped by structural
racism through projects focused on housing, transportation, environmental conditions, community safety and policing, and other areas.
Virgin Islands Safe Communities Project will demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing data to
inform public policies and leverage local funds to combat crime, implement prevention
programs, and revise school disciplinary policies.
The findings from the project are expected to demonstrate the root causes of crime in the Virgin Islands and to help identify public policies specifically associated with structural racism. With this information, leaders and policymakers can manage how they allot funds, revise and develop policies, and support strategic interventions to reduce the incidence of violence and criminal activity, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.
Over the coming weeks, across the territory, Virgin Islands Safe Communities Project will hold
town hall meetings; conduct key informant interviews with policymakers, public safety leaders,
public health leaders, school leaders, and student leaders; host listening sessions with faith-based and neighborhood leaders; and facilitate focus groups with other stakeholders to understand community priorities, safety concerns, and current safety. Findings will be published for the general public to access after the project concludes in May 2023.
RWJF is committed to building a Culture of Health where everyone in America has a fair and
just opportunity to live the healthiest life possible. Urban will provide the grantees with technical
assistance and peer learning opportunities, as well as document insights for the broader field.
What ARCH Institute accomplishes with this grant will demonstrate techniques and strategies
that people across the United States can learn from and adapt to address inequities in their own
communities.
“We are very excited to be one of 38 grantees selected and the only grantee from any of the
territories. CERC and ARCH Institute have a great relationship partnering on research projects
so we are grateful for their partnership. We look forward to the critical information Virgin
Islands Safe Communities will share with all stakeholders including policymakers. This project
will highlight the importance of shifting policy making culture to be more evidence informed as
well as, the need for critical investment of local dollars into tier one prevention services.”
Duane Howell, Executive Director, ARCH Institute.
About Access to Racial and Cultural Health (ARCH) Institute, Inc.
ARCH Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on addressing youth and young
adult health disparities across the territory. ARCH Institute focuses on drug misuse, STDs,
HIV/AIDS and emerging public health threats. ARCH Institute programs include Drug Free
Communities, Better Choices for a Better Future: P2P, PODER en SALUD, Virgin Islands Youth
Health Equity and Leadership Project and Virgin Islands Safe Communities Project. ARCH will
celebrate it’s 20th year in 2023 serving youths and young adults on St. Croix and the wider
territory.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated
solely to health. Since 1972, RWJF has supported research and programs to uncover the
many factors that impact health and enable people and communities to be as healthy as possible.
Working alongside public health leaders, entrepreneurs, research
scientists, policymakers, and community leaders, the Foundation is committed to ensuring
that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve better health where we live, learn, work and play.
About the Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help
advance upward mobility and equity. It is a trusted source for people who seek to
strengthen decision-making, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of
families and communities.
For more information, please contact Duane Howell at 340-690-2597 or
viasthmaeducation@hotmail.com