Founder
Cedar Rapids Think Tank On Violence & Mental Health
Linn Co Iowa
Lee Hermiston, The GazetteSEPTEMBER 16, 2015 | 6:16 PMJohnson, a Cedar Rapids-based independent business consultant who spearheaded the creation of the organization.Johnson said his efforts to address community violence took a turn when he saw a headline about a think tank in a newspaper last month. That led him to contact Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman to discuss forming such an organization in Cedar Rapids.Jerman said he was immediately on board with the idea of tackling issues from more than just a law enforcement approach.“It’s a societal issue,” Jerman said to the group. “There’s not one single issue that has brought us to where we are today.”Jerman and Johnson then began contacting leaders in the community who would be a part of the think tank. Those efforts were accelerated last week in the wake of two homicides and other acts of violenceThe think tank will include representation from various organizations within the city, including law enforcement agencies, health care officials, the faith community, education leaders and social service organizations.“The issues that the community faces regarding mental health and violence are not things that can be handled individually,” Johnson said.No specific measures were proposed during Wednesday’s news conference, and Johnson said it will take time before those emerge. He urged community members to submit their ideas — the group eventually will have a Facebook page.“I’m not so focused on quarterly updates,” he said. “I’m not so focused on regular dialogue as much as I am trying to get the broad nature of the effort here to come up with long-standing, doable solutions. As we find them, we’ll communicate that to the community.”Four Oaks CEO Anne Gruenewald, a think tank member, praised the concept and noted it has worked in the past in the aftermath of the devastating Floods “We have to stop talking and start doing,” he said.