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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 09, 2024 | The Indian Eye 26

NYC Mayor Adams, Faith Leaders Launch

Citywide Collective to Prevent Gun Violence

Collective Backed by $1.5 Million in State Funding, Will Expand Faith-Led

Community Intervention Programs, Family and Victim Services, and Youth Support Systems

to Build Safer, More Resilient Communities

OUR BUREAU state resources so we can prevent gun young people, community support, state grant will strengthen our on-the-
violence before the shooting starts. To- and fearless crisis management system ground engagement as well as victim
NEW YORK, NY
gether, we are making systemic invest- groups who bring peace every day. and family support in the neighbor-
ew York City Mayor Eric Ad- ments that will not only lower crime I applaud our faith-based partners hoods most vulnerable to gun vio-
ams and a coalition of mul- but also help communities heal. We for leading by example and showing lence. DYCD will continue our strong
Ntifaith leaders from across are proud to continue the momentum the endless possibilities when com- partnership with the NYPD, crisis
the city today launched the Citywide we’ve built over the first two years of munities come together for a greater management system groups, and the
Clergy Collective, a group of 272 faith our administration, driving shootings cause.” Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
leaders committed to preventing gun down and making our city safer and “Gun violence is a serious is- to support Mayor Adams’ ‘Blueprint
violence in New York City, at the ad- more resilient for all New Yorkers.” sue, and we must deal with it seri- to End Gun Violence’ and drive down
ministration’s annual interfaith break- “When it comes to public safety, ously. The complex challenges of gun crime across the city.”
fast. Using a $1.5 million grant from each and every one of us has a role to violence are multi-faceted and go way “The increasing loss of life due
the New York State Department of play in keeping our communities safe. beyond the gun,” said Mayor’s Office to gun violence in New York City is
Criminal Justice, Citywide Clergy Col- Time and time again, our faith com- of Faith-Based and Community Part- disheartening and a call for us to do
lective members will deliver resources, munity has been there to answer the nerships Executive Director Pastor more. The safety of our communities
direct services, and community-build- call,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Gilford T. Monrose. “The partnership requires the commitment of everyone
ing programs to all New Yorkers in all Wright. “As co-chair of the ‘Gun Vio- that Mayor Adams is leading with the who lives in it and to be a part of the
five boroughs as they respond to the lence Prevention Task Force,’ we have faith community will change the way solution,” said Karmacharya Vijah
needs and traumas that gun violence seen firsthand the power of a preven- we deal with the root causes of the Ramjattan, founder and president,
creates. tion-based approach and tackling the violence in this city. Ending gun vio- United Madrassi Association Inc.
The programs and services will root causes of gun violence to keep lence must involve a holistic approach “New York City is a city of faith and
be run by local faith leaders across our city safe. Together, with the help that includes comprehensive collabo- the faithful serve as the backbone of
the city, with assistance from the New from every sector and community in ration and community planning. This all communities. As an interfaith and
York City Department of Youth and New York City, we can end the gun initial investment of $1.5 million to Hindu faith leader, I am encouraged
Community Development (DYCD), violence epidemic.” fund the Citywide Clergy Collective’s by the Clergy Collective initiative,
Office of Neighborhood Safety, Of- “Public safety requires the public faith-led approaches to gun violence which centers clergy leadership as key
fice of Faith-Based and Community — all of our fellow New Yorkers — to prevention is an important aspect in stakeholders to aid in ending gun vio-
Partnerships, and New York City Po- look out and care for our neighbors. galvanizing our resources towards lence. I applaud the mayor’s Office of
lice Department (NYPD). No one understands this better than the high-risk youth and survivors of Faith-based and Community Partner-
“Public safety is the prerequisite our allies in the faith-based commu- gun violence.” ships team for putting forth a plan to
to prosperity, and it takes all of us to nity,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic “The Office of Faith-Based and save lives while uniting and building
deliver a safe city,” said Mayor Adams. Initiatives Ana Almanzar. “Our city Community Partnerships has been an communities through its three core
“That’s why we are bringing together has seen real progress in stopping vi- invaluable partner to DYCD’s Office pillars of street level engagement, vic-
a multidenominational coalition of olence before it happens in our streets of Neighborhood Safety,” said DYCD tim support services, and precinct en-
hundreds of faith leaders with city and because of targeted investments in our Commissioner Keith Howard. “This gagement.”

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