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
New York, NY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and a coalition of multifaith leaders from across the city today launched the Citywide Clergy Collective, a group of 272 faith leaders committed to preventing gun violence in New York City, at the administration’s annual interfaith breakfast. Using a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Department of Criminal Justice, Citywide Clergy Collective members will deliver resources, direct services, and community-building programs to all New Yorkers in all five boroughs as they respond to the needs and traumas that gun violence creates. The programs and services will be run by local faith leaders across the city, 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).
“Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity, and it takes all of us to deliver a safe city,” said Mayor Adams. “That’s why we are bringing together a multidenominational coalition of hundreds of faith leaders with city and state resources so we can prevent gun violence before the shooting starts. 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.”
“When it comes to public safety, each and every one of us has a role to play in keeping our communities safe. Time and time again, our faith community has been there to answer the call,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “As co-chair of the ‘Gun Violence Prevention Task Force,’ we have seen firsthand the power of a prevention-based approach and tackling the root causes of gun violence to keep our city safe. Together, with the help from every sector and community in New York City, we can end the gun violence epidemic.”
“Public safety requires the public — all of our fellow New Yorkers — to look out and care for our neighbors. No one understands this better than our allies in the faith-based community,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar. “Our city has seen real progress in stopping violence before it happens in our streets because of targeted investments in our young people, community support, and fearless crisis management system groups who bring peace every day. I applaud our faith-based partners for leading by example and showing the endless possibilities when communities come together for a greater cause.”
“Gun violence is a serious issue, and we must deal with it seriously. The complex challenges of gun violence are multi-faceted and go way beyond the gun,” said Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships Executive Director Pastor Gilford T. Monrose. “The partnership that Mayor Adams is leading with the faith community will change the way we deal with the root causes of the violence in this city. Ending gun violence must involve a holistic approach that includes comprehensive collaboration and community planning. This initial investment of $1.5 million to fund the Citywide Clergy Collective’s faith-led approaches to gun violence prevention is an important aspect in galvanizing our resources towards the high-risk youth and survivors of gun violence.”
“The Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships has been an invaluable partner to DYCD’s Office of Neighborhood Safety,” said DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard. “This state grant will strengthen our on-the-ground engagement as well as victim and family support in the neighborhoods most vulnerable to gun violence. DYCD will continue our strong partnership with the NYPD, crisis management system groups, and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to support Mayor Adams’ ‘Blueprint to End Gun Violence’ and drive down crime across the city.”
“The increasing loss of life due to gun violence in New York City is disheartening and a call for us to do more. The safety of our communities requires the commitment of everyone who lives in it to be a part of the solution,” said Karmacharya Vijah Ramjattan, founder and president, United Madrassi Association Inc. “New York City is a city of faith and the faithful serve as the backbone of all communities. As an interfaith and Hindu faith leader, I am encouraged by the Clergy Collective initiative, which centers clergy leadership as key stakeholders to aid in ending gun violence. I applaud the mayor’s Office of Faith-based and Community Partnerships team for putting forth a plan to save lives while uniting and building communities through its three core pillars of street level engagement, victim support services, and precinct engagement.”
