Take a walk through some creative initiatives that are transforming how safety and justice get delivered in New York and beyond.
Community justice takes many forms.
For three decades, the Center has worked with systems and communities of all shapes and sizes to solve local problems. We do that by investing in the people closest to the issues, giving communities the support and resources they need to thrive on their own terms.
At a recent event to mark our 30th anniversary, we highlighted some creative ways our programs are delivering safety and justice.
Our Neighborhood Safety Initiatives team engages public housing residents across New York City to shape investments in their own communities. With architectural models created in partnership with New York Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture and Design, residents can visualize the changes they want to see in their neighborhoods.
In large-scale participatory budgeting projects, community members work together to identify their priorities for local investments. Then they vote on the changes they’d like to see implemented, from better lighting to new parks and playgrounds.
Across many of our community programs, we help young people develop practical skills and explore new ways of expressing themselves. This fashion exhibit is the work of young people in our afterschool program in the Bronx. With help from guest teacher Yvonne Jewnell, youth participants get hands-on instruction in sewing, garment construction, and design. They also develop event planning and entrepreneurship skills in a community fashion show where they have a chance to display and sell their work.
Young people in another one of our Bronx programs have a chance to hone their craftsmanship abilities through woodworking. Participants learn how to cut, paint, pour resin, and drill through wood to create artworks and decorative pieces like these under the guidance of guest teacher Maria Cifuentes.
Another example of how we harness the power of the arts can be seen in the Inside Literary Prize. The Prize—a partnership between the Center, Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, and bookstore owner Lori Feathers—is the first major U.S. book award judged by people in prison. The award breaks down barriers in the cultural conversation and celebrates the shared humanity of people inside and outside of prison walls.
Many of our innovations come directly from our teams working on the ground. “Virtual Reality Adventure Therapy” is a prime example, delivering an immersive therapeutic experience for young people who face barriers in accessing traditional care. With a simulated VR adventure like rock climbing, young people learn to manage stress and regulate emotions in a safe, creative environment with our specialist therapists. VR Adventure Therapy was one winner of our first-ever “Innovation Fund,” an initiative to uncover and support creative ideas from our teams across the Center.
With their mobile service van, our Bronx HOPE team prevents overdoses by meeting people in need wherever they may be. The van is stocked with life-saving resources like fentanyl testing strips and naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It also comes equipped with snacks, water, and hygiene supplies for those who need them. The van is led by peer specialists with lived experience, making it easier to reach people who might be wary of traditional treatment.
If you’re interested in bringing innovative solutions like these to communities or justice systems near you, reach out to our experienced team of innovators with Community Justice Solutions.
Thank you to our event sponsors and supporters, including:
- Presenting: Susan Hagedorn, RN, PhD
- Visionary: Gregory and Jill Steinberg; Hecker Fink; Latham & Watkins; Open Impact Real Estate
- Innovators: Adam Durrett; Capital One; Cigna; Cravath, Swaine, and Moore LLP; GFP Real Estate; HUB International; Quent Capital; Times Square Alliance