Credible messengers—individuals with lived experience of violence either as perpetrators or victims—are central to many community-based violence intervention (CVI) programs. Although the use of credible messengers as case managers in CVI programs is expanding, research is limited on what contributes to their effectiveness. This study examines the skills and traits credible messengers utilize to engage participants and support behavior change. Interviews and focus groups with staff from a violence intervention program were conducted, and transcripts were thematically analyzed using iterative deductive–inductive coding and a team-based pile sort. The analyses, later validated through member checking, resulted in the identification of seven core traits and skills, along with 14 subthemes that shape effective participant engagement. By illuminating the interpersonal foundations of credible messenger work, this study advances scholarship on the processes underlying critical components of CVI programming and offers insights into optimizing case management training and program implementation.
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