Expansion strengthens community-based violence prevention, conflict mediation, street outreach and support through trusted local organizations and credible messengers
Our Bureau
New York, NY
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois and the Office of Community Safety have announced the expansion of New York City’s Crisis Management System (CMS) to Bushwick, Harlem and Washington Heights/Inwood.
The expansion will strengthen the City’s work of credible messengers — trusted community member who work to mediate conflicts before they become violence — while connecting New Yorkers to jobs, mental health services, mentorship, education and other resources. The three neighborhoods, known as catchment areas, were selected based on crime data, unmet service needs and other indicators. Each full CMS catchment receives $1.6 million in City funding.
The expansion reflects the Mamdani administration’s evidence-based, whole-of-government approach to public safety: preventing violence before it happens by investing in the people and community organizations that know their neighborhoods best.
“Public safety is strongest when it begins with prevention and when communities have the resources to resolve conflict, support young people and keep their neighbors safe,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “By expanding the Crisis Management System in Bushwick, Harlem and Washington Heights/Inwood, we are investing in trusted local organizations and credible messengers who know their communities and have earned their trust. That is how we build a safer New York City: by pairing accountability with opportunity and making sure every neighborhood has the resources to keep its people safe.”
“Every New Yorker deserves to be safe in their neighborhood, and that safety is strongest when it is built with — not imposed on — communities,” said Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. “This expansion gives trusted local partners the resources they need to reach people before a crisis, interrupt violence and respond to community needs with care, credibility and urgency.”
Developed through investments from the City Council and the administration more than a decade ago, the CMS is a network of community-based organizations working to prevent and reduce gun violence in neighborhoods most affected by it. CMS combines immediate conflict prevention with sustained support to help New Yorkers build safer futures.
CMS partners deploy trained outreach workers and violence interrupters, often known as credible messengers, who have deep roots in their communities and are able to build trust with people at greatest risk of becoming involved in violence. Teams identify and de-escalate disputes before they turn violent, support residents after violent incidents and help prevent retaliation. They also connect participants to job training, employment, education, mental health care, legal assistance and other services.
“Community safety requires sustained investment in the people and organizations best positioned to prevent harm and support healing,” said Dr. Ayesha Delany-Brumsey, Commissioner of the Office of Community Safety. “By strengthening credible-messenger outreach and access to clinical support, we are helping community partners address conflict, connect New Yorkers to care and deliver more comprehensive violence-prevention services.”
“Public safety is not just relying on police response to solve deeply systemic issues — it’s about preventing violence before it even happens,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, representing Washington Heights & Inwood. “Investing in Grow Up Grow Out is an investment in the safety and future of Washington Heights and Inwood. By expanding trusted street outreach, mentorship, and violence intervention, we are empowering community leaders who know our young people and understand their challenges. We applaud the expansion of the credible messengers program, relying on organizations who have built the community trust to be able to intervene before conflict turns into tragedy.”
“Lasting safety starts with prevention. Expanding the Crisis Management System into Harlem puts more credible messengers in our neighborhoods to resolve conflicts before they escalate, support families after a crisis and connect young people to mentorship, jobs, education and mental health care. Living Redemption is already doing this work, and this investment will help them reach more people. Thank you to Mayor Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Francois for this commitment,” said Council Member Yusef Salaam.
Bushwick
In Bushwick, the City will expand The Wick Against Violence, operated by Southside United, to strengthen neighborhood outreach and support residents at risk of gun violence. The investment builds on Southside United’s existing work at Woodhull Hospital and programming at Bushwick Houses, giving the organization additional resources to deepen neighborhood outreach and provide sustained support to residents at risk of gun violence.
Harlem
The new investment will expand Living Redemption’s neighborhood outreach and conflict-mediation work, while connecting more young people and families with trusted mentors and pathways to employment, education and other support.
Washington Heights/Inwood
In Washington Heights/Inwood, the City will establish a new CMS street-outreach team through Grow Up Grow Out Jr., operated by United Way, bringing CMS outreach services to an area the network has not previously covered. Trained neighborhood workers will provide street outreach, conflict mediation and ongoing support to residents at risk of becoming involved in violence.