Aquil Basheer, founder of the Stop the Violence Foundation and the Peace and the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute, speaks Oct. 4 at his organization’s leadership award program. Basheer plans to step down as leader of the organization.

Photo by Ian Foxx

By Shirley Hawkins

Contributing Writer

SOUTH LOS ANGELES — Individuals who work behind the scenes to build safer communities were honored Oct. 4 at the Stop the Violence Increase the Peace and the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute Foundation’s 2025 Community Safety Leadership Awards at the Los Angeles Southwest College Theater.

Honorees included Aquil Basheer, founder of the BUILD Program and the Peace and the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute Stop the Violence Foundation w

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