At the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), the work of building safer communities goes far beyond responding to street violence. Through its Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) team, SWOP is taking on the critical and often hidden issue of domestic violence, ensuring survivors have a pathway to safety, support, and healing.

For Keana Lindo, CP4P Case Manager at SWOP, this work is deeply personal and profoundly important. “When people think about community violence, they often picture what happens outside on the street,” Keana says. “But for many in our community, the most dangerous place can be inside their own home.”

Keana works directly with victims of domestic violence, offering support that is both immediate and long-term. She helps survivors access emergency shelter, legal services, counseling, and financial assistance, while also collaborating with SWOP’s outreach workers to ensure participants’ safety. “Sometimes, it's about finding someone a safe place to stay that same night. Other times, it's about helping them build a plan for what comes next,” she explains.

The CP4P team’s involvement in domestic violence work emerged from the recognition that violence is interconnected — and that street violence and domestic violence often overlap in people’s lives. SWOP’s outreach workers, who maintain trusted relationships in the community, are often the first to hear about domestic violence situations. That trust makes it possible for survivors to come forward and seek help without fear of judgment.

“Our outreach team is out there every day, not just interrupting conflicts, but listening,” Keana says. “When someone discloses that they’re being hurt at home, we’re able to respond quickly because we already have those connections.”

In addition to direct services, CP4P is helping to raise awareness about domestic violence within the community, breaking the silence and stigma that often surrounds it. Keana and the team regularly distribute resources, host conversations, and partner with local organizations to make sure that survivors know they are not alone.

“We want people to understand that domestic violence is a community issue, not a private one,” Keana says. “And through CP4P, SWOP is showing that it’s possible to address violence in all its forms — by standing with survivors, creating safety, and working toward long-term peace.”

As SWOP continues to expand its violence prevention work, domestic violence advocacy remains a central part of the mission. And with leaders like Keana Lindo on the front lines, survivors in the southwest side of Chicago have one more ally in their corner

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