Page 26 - The Indian EYE 103026

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 30, 2026 | The Indian Eye 26

Mayor Mamdani Expands Community-Based

Violence Prevention to Bushwick, Harlem,

and Washington Heights/Inwood

Expansion strengthens community-based violence prevention, conflict mediation, street

outreach and support through trusted local organizations and credible messengers

zations who have built the community
OUR BUREAU
trust to be able to intervene before
NEW YORK, NY conflict turns into tragedy.”
“Lasting safety starts with pre-
ayor Zohran Kwame Mam- vention. Expanding the Crisis Man-
dani, Deputy Mayor for
MCommunity Safety Renita agement System into Harlem puts
more credible messengers in our
Francois and the Office of Communi- neighborhoods to resolve conflicts be-
ty Safety have announced the expan- fore they escalate, support families af-
sion of New York City’s Crisis Man-
agement System (CMS) to Bushwick, ter a crisis and connect young people
to mentorship, jobs, education and
Harlem and Washington Heights/ mental health care. Living Redemp-
Inwood. tion is already doing this work, and
The expansion will strengthen
the City’s work of credible messen- this investment will help them reach
more people. Thank you to Mayor
gers — trusted community member Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Fran-
who work to mediate conflicts before cois for this commitment,” said Coun-
they become violence — while con- cil Member Yusef Salaam.
necting New Yorkers to jobs, mental
health services, mentorship, educa- Bushwick
tion and other resources. The three In Bushwick, the City will expand
neighborhoods, known as catchment The Wick Against Violence, operated
areas, were selected based on crime with — not imposed on — commu- legal assistance and other services. by Southside United, to strengthen
data, unmet service needs and other nities,” said Deputy Mayor for Com- “Community safety requires sus- neighborhood outreach and support
indicators. Each full CMS catchment munity Safety Renita Francois. “This tained investment in the people and residents at risk of gun violence. The in-
receives $1.6 million in City funding. expansion gives trusted local partners organizations best positioned to pre- vestment builds on Southside United’s
The expansion reflects the Mam- the resources they need to reach peo- vent harm and support healing,” said existing work at Woodhull Hospital
dani administration’s evidence-based, ple before a crisis, interrupt violence Dr. Ayesha Delany-Brumsey, Com- and programming at Bushwick Hous-
whole-of-government approach to and respond to community needs missioner of the Office of Commu- es, giving the organization additional
public safety: preventing violence with care, credibility and urgency.” nity Safety. “By strengthening credi- resources to deepen neighborhood
before it happens by investing in the Developed through investments ble-messenger outreach and access to outreach and provide sustained sup-
people and community organizations from the City Council and the ad- clinical support, we are helping com- port to residents at risk of gun violence.
that know their neighborhoods best. ministration more than a decade munity partners address conflict, con- Harlem
“Public safety is strongest when it ago, the CMS is a network of com- nect New Yorkers to care and deliver
begins with prevention and when com- munity-based organizations working more comprehensive violence-pre- The new investment will expand
munities have the resources to resolve to prevent and reduce gun violence vention services.” Living Redemption’s neighborhood
outreach and conflict-mediation work,
conflict, support young people and in neighborhoods most affected by it. “Public safety is not just relying
keep their neighbors safe,” said May- CMS combines immediate conflict on police response to solve deeply while connecting more young people
and families with trusted mentors and
or Zohran Mamdani. “By expanding prevention with sustained support to systemic issues — it’s about prevent- pathways to employment, education
the Crisis Management System in help New Yorkers build safer futures. ing violence before it even happens,” and other support.
Bushwick, Harlem and Washington CMS partners deploy trained said Council Member Carmen De
Heights/Inwood, we are investing in outreach workers and violence inter- La Rosa, representing Washington Washington Heights/Inwood
trusted local organizations and cred- rupters, often known as credible mes- Heights & Inwood. “Investing in In Washington Heights/Inwood,
ible messengers who know their com- sengers, who have deep roots in their Grow Up Grow Out is an investment the City will establish a new CMS
munities and have earned their trust. communities and are able to build in the safety and future of Washington street-outreach team through Grow
That is how we build a safer New York trust with people at greatest risk of Heights and Inwood. By expanding Up Grow Out Jr., operated by United
City: by pairing accountability with becoming involved in violence. Teams trusted street outreach, mentorship, Way, bringing CMS outreach services
opportunity and making sure every identify and de-escalate disputes be- and violence intervention, we are to an area the network has not previ-
neighborhood has the resources to fore they turn violent, support resi- empowering community leaders who ously covered. Trained neighborhood
keep its people safe.” dents after violent incidents and help know our young people and under- workers will provide street outreach,
“Every New Yorker deserves to prevent retaliation. They also connect stand their challenges. We applaud conflict mediation and ongoing sup-
be safe in their neighborhood, and participants to job training, employ- the expansion of the credible mes- port to residents at risk of becoming
that safety is strongest when it is built ment, education, mental health care, sengers program, relying on organi- involved in violence.

www.TheIndianEYE.com