**Forthcoming in Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP) 18.4. All rights reserved.**
ABSTRACT
South Carolina ranks 10th in the nation for firearm death rates. The homicide rate increased by 22.1% in 2020, the highest rate since 1993, identifying an urgent need for intervention. The Medical University of South Carolina Community Engaged Scholars Program provides Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) training and seed funding for projects to improve health in South Carolina. This article describes a collaboration between a grass-roots community organization and academic partner. The Tri-County Gun Violence Coordinating Council was created to address gun violence in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties by facilitating coordination among stakeholders and developing a comprehensive gun violence reduction strategy. We explore perspectives of both the community and academic partner on collaborating towards a reduction in community gun violence.