[Norfolk, VA] July 15, 2025 — The Planning Council is proud to announce it has received a $2,500 grant from Norfolk Southern through its Safety First Grant Program. The funding will support The Planning Council’s Think Twice: Pathways to Peace program, helping youth develop social and emotional skills through conflict resolution to combat violence before it becomes an option.
This grant is part of Norfolk Southern’s commitment to strengthening the communities it serves across its 22-state network. Launched in 2023, Norfolk Southern’s open-application grant programs are designed to support organizations working to further the areas of safety, sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience.
“We all share the frustration and fear that an active shooter could appear anywhere in today’s world,” said Jo Ann Short, President and CEO of The Planning Council. “At The Planning Council, we are committed to doing our part to help prevent young people from becoming part of those tragic statistics. This generous support from Norfolk Southern enables us to develop a curriculum focused on teaching conflict resolution skills to youth across Hampton Roads.”
The Planning Council’s Think Twice: Pathways to Peace program will dismantle values around violence, impart empathy, encourage emotional regulation, enhance communication skills, teach coping skills, address the psychology behind automatic responses, utilize cognitive behavioral techniques, and advance critical thinking. Preventing violence decreases youth involvement with the criminal justice system, lessens occurrences and the impact of violence, reduces issues with attendance/truancy/school drop-out rates/suspensions/expulsions, promotes a positive outlook on life, increases interest in school, improves grades, permits students to graduate on time, minimizes substance use, and enhances gainful employment opportunities.
The Safety First Grant Program advances community safety by supporting first responders, emergency preparedness initiatives, and safety education. It honors those who protect our neighborhoods every day and aims to foster a culture of safety throughout Norfolk Southern’s network.
About The Planning Council:
Since its inception in 1941, The Planning Council (TPC) has been recognized as a community convener around human service issues. From children’s issues to homelessness, TPC has identified areas of regional concern and brought together the decision-makers and resources to address these challenges. As a result, The Planning Council has been improving quality of life and building stronger communities. They work to identify community needs, connect people with solutions, improve the lives of children and families, and work for the betterment of the most vulnerable populations. Headquartered in Norfolk, and serving Southeastern VA, Maryland, and DC, The Planning Council is governed by a 16-person volunteer Board of Directors and operates a $14 million annual budget with 40 dedicated and talented team members.
About Norfolk Southern:
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a 22-state freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver approximately 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports across the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.