New York City receives a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Department of Criminal Justice to launch a gun violence prevention program called the Citywide Clergy Collective.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams used a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Department of Criminal Justice to launch a gun violence prevention program called the Citywide Clergy Collective. This multi-faith effort is a group of 272 leaders across NYC who will deliver resources, direct services, and community-building programs that will focus on responding to the needs to and traumas that gun violence creates for New Yorkers in all five boroughs, especially focusing on 18 of the city’s most vulnerable communities.
“Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity, and it takes all of us to deliver a safe city,” said Adams. “That’s why we are bringing together a multi-denominational coalition of hundreds of faith leaders with city and state resources so we can prevent gun violence before the shooting starts.”
Citywide Clergy Collective will be run by local faith leaders with assistance from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Office of Neighborhood Safety, Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, and New York City Police Department (NYPD).
“Together, we are making systemic investments that will not only lower crime but also help communities heal. We are proud to continue the momentum we’ve built over the first two years of our administration, driving shootings down and making our city safer and more resilient for all New Yorkers,” said Adams.
The $1.5 million grant will support three types of programs: street-level engagement, victim support services, and precinct engagement. The street-level engagement program will increase and expand community engagement through clergy walks, street dinners, arts, sports, mentorship, and hotspot programs. The victim support services will increase private support for families and survivors of gun violence through prayer vigils, bereavement services, transportation, emergency accommodations, food, and spiritual care. The precinct engagement program will connect young people with criminal backgrounds with local precincts to support those individuals. It will also bolster anti-violence groups and work with community stakeholders.
“Matthew 24:12 has given us a clear example of the lack of love and concern in our communities. With evil seemingly at its peak, the faith-based leadership of New York City has come together as one body and declared our love for each other and the communities we serve is much stronger than the fear that has overwhelmed our communities,” said Bishop Doug Woodall.
“Historically, profound acts of social justice have been spearheaded by the faith community. The word community should evoke a sense of safety and security. Far too often, especially in marginalized communities, it has become a place of fear and trepidation. This fear impacts the way we live, work, and seek healthcare,” said Reverend Dr. Anne Marie Bentsi-Addison, senior director for faith-based initiatives at NYC Health + Hospitals.
“This initiative will serve to help fill the gaps in the amazing work already in place. It will provide the necessary resources to undergird strong corrective action plans in need of such support. The winds of change have begun to blow away the darkness and devastation of gun violence. As leaders of the faith community, it is our responsibility to ensure that the ‘ruah,’ the divine winds continue to blow away the darkness of these times through the impact of our deeds. We are the hands and feet of God here on earth, let us continue to exemplify ‘faith in action.’”
Citywide Clergy Collective is part of a larger plan to drive down homicides and shootings in New York City. Last summer, Mayor Adam’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released “A Blueprint for Public Safety”. Its goal has been to reduce gun violence by double digits and to engage with communities most impacted by gun violence. Mayor Adam’s administration has been able to remove more than 14,000 illegal guns from the streets of New York City since January 2022.
