COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

NYC Together Inc
Brooklyn, NY · EIN 473115737 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE I40 · Crime & Legal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · webuildtheblock.org
revenue
$446K
expenses
$417K
net assets
$433K
employees
0
volunteers
10
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

NYC Together provides an opportunity for students and NYC police officers to support one another in collaborative efforts to increase civic engagement, foster leadership and strengthen communities.

profile · synthesized from sources

We Build the Block is a New York City-based organization focused on reimagining public safety through community-led models. It works to reduce gun violence and over-policing by empowering youth, building partnerships between community organizations and the NYPD, and piloting alternative safety responses. The organization runs programs in trauma resolution, harm reduction, youth leadership, and legal advocacy, primarily in Brooklyn.

named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

BlockAid
Partnership with ASAP Foundation to train youth in harm reduction strategies, including use of naloxone and test strips, to address substance misuse in Black and Latinx communities.
Brownsville Safety Alliance
Community-led public safety model that diverts 911/311 calls from police to crisis management partners and coordinates real-time community responses in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
CRED Academy
Trains community-based direct-service workers in emergency response, safety protocols, and community protection to professionalize frontline roles.
Crew Count
Youth coalition focused on voter education and mobilization to elect representatives who reflect overpoliced communities.
Family Care & Employment
Provides youth with summer employment at $25/hour, job training, and support for caregivers in resume building and job placement.
Global Goodness Network
International initiative sharing models of community-led public health, harm reduction, and restorative justice with partners in South Africa, Israel, Senegal, Colombia, Sweden, Belgium, and Australia.
Heal The Violence
Provides trauma resolution, stipends, and employment training for youth and young adults in public housing to reduce gun violence and develop community leadership.
Lawyer Responder Model
Builds a network of volunteer lawyers to protect the rights of individuals arrested in over-policed communities during police encounters.
The Keys
Public health campaign engaging drug consumers and vendors on fentanyl risks, quality control, and legal rights to reduce overdoses and criminalization.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Gun Violence Prevention & Intervention 2 activities
    • Community-led public safety model development
      Creates community-developed and community-led models to reduce violence and increase safety, including developing innovative pilots and protocols—such as first aid training for youth in the event of shootings—to transform public safety systems.
    • Youth and community violence intervention programs
      Identifies, engages, and supports youth in crisis through trauma resolution, stipends, employment training, and harm reduction strategies including safety planning, mentorship, and advocacy via the BlockAid program. Operates weekly sessions for youth and young adults impacted by gun violence in public housing.
  • Community Safety Patrols & Security Support 2 activities
    • Crisis response and public safety diversion initiatives
      Operates the Brownsville Safety Alliance to divert 911 and 311 calls from police to trained crisis management partners, coordinating real-time responses with community-based organizations and city agencies in over-policed communities. Conducted a five-day public safety experiment in April where residents responded to 911 calls in a two-block area of Brownsville, Brooklyn.
    • Integration of community organizations into public safety strategy
      Facilitates collaboration between community-based organizations and the NYPD to align crime reduction strategies with community priorities, elevate community voices, and integrate local perspectives into policing approaches. Also facilitates civic engagement programs between students and NYPD officers.
  • Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
    • Capacity building for frontline workers
      Provides training through The CRED Academy to equip direct-service workers with skills to safely respond to emergencies based on eight core capabilities.
  • Opioid Harm Reduction Services 1 activity
    • Harm reduction and overdose prevention services
      Trains youth, credible messengers, and community partners in naloxone administration and safe drug use practices, including distribution of drug test strips. Implemented The Keys public health campaign to educate drug consumers and vendors on fentanyl risks, quality control, workspace safety, legal penalties, and customer service.
  • Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
    • Legal advocacy and protection network
      Builds a network of volunteer lawyers to protect individuals from unlawful NYPD interrogation and intimidation during arrests.
  • Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 1 activity
    • Public narrative and policy advocacy on public safety
      Advocates for smarter public safety policies, collaborates with cultural leaders to amplify community perspectives, organizes youth through Crew Count to promote civic engagement and voting, and works to shift dominant narratives around safety and policing.
  • Restorative Justice and Peer Mediation Programs 1 activity
    • Restorative justice and recidivism prevention programs
      Implements restorative justice initiatives such as a program in Brownsville, Brooklyn that disrupts connections between domestic violence and community violence, while also interrupting cycles of recidivism and cultivating community leaders.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Youth workforce development and economic support
      Hires youth through city employment programs at $25 per hour, provides support obtaining vital documents and professional emails, connects them with summer employment and mentorship opportunities, and offers resume and job-finding assistance for parents and caregivers.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$446K
Contributions & grants$446K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$417K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$458K
Cash$135K
Investments$0
Liabilities$24K
Net assets$433K
Liquid reserves3.9 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -47.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • Colin Lentz — Secretary
  • Dana Rachlin — President
  • Melissa Gelber — Vice President
  • Robert Senter — Treasurer
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • ASAP Foundation Partner — Partner in developing and implementing the BlockAid harm reduction program.
  • ASAP Foundation Partner — Strategic partner and community outreach collaborator focused on youth substance use education and community well-being.
  • BIVO Partner — Community-based organization active in the Brownsville Safety Alliance, managing disruptions and providing real-time community support.
  • BTTM Partner — Community-based organization active in the Brownsville Safety Alliance, managing disruptions and providing real-time community support.
  • Brooklyn Eagle Partner — Media partner featuring the organization's programs and initiatives.
  • Brownsville In Violence Out Partner — Collaborates with We Build the Block on anti-gun violence initiatives and community safety programs in Brownsville.
  • City & State New York Partner — Media partner covering the organization's impact on youth and public safety policy.
  • Cosmopolitan Partner — Media partner highlighting the organization's approach to addressing police and safety issues through community action.
  • Elite Learners Partner — Community-based organization active in the Brownsville Safety Alliance, managing disruptions and providing real-time community support.
  • MEL Partner — Community-based organization active in the Brownsville Safety Alliance, managing disruptions and providing real-time community support.
  • NEW YORK TIMES Partner — Media partner covering the organization's trauma resolution and community policing initiatives.
  • NYPD Partner — Collaborates with precincts to integrate community-based organizations into crime strategies and build police-community relationships.
  • New York City Police Department Partner — Collaborates with NYC Together Inc to engage students in civic leadership and community-strengthening initiatives.
  • THE CITY Partner — Media partner reporting on the organization's community-led policing experiments.
  • The Trace Partner — Media partner reporting on the organization's violence interruption programs.
  • WNYC Partner — Media partner covering the organization's public safety pilots and community impact.
  • We Build The Block Network — Member organization featured in a funding announcement for restorative justice programs
  • We Build The Block Partner — Collaborated on a five-day experiment in Brownsville where residents responded to 911 calls.
  • We Build The Block Partner — Collaborates on a program addressing domestic and community violence in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Led Public Safety
    methodology: community-led public safety
    By replacing traditional policing with civilian-led, community-developed responses to public safety incidents, we reduce violence and build trust in over-policed communities because local residents are better equipped to de-escalate crises and address root causes of harm.
  • Restorative Justice & Harm Reduction
    methodology: restorative_justice
    By using restorative justice practices and direct engagement with high-risk individuals—including people who use or sell drugs—we address community harm and reduce reliance on punitive systems because inclusive, relationship-based interventions foster accountability and reduce violence more effectively than enforcement.
  • Trauma-Informed Community Intervention
    methodology: trauma-informed_community_safety
    By addressing systemic and generational trauma rooted in historical oppression and state violence, we create effective violence prevention and public safety solutions because healing trauma is a prerequisite to sustainable community well-being.
  • Youth Leadership for Violence Prevention
    methodology: youth_led_emergency_response_training
    By equipping youth with emergency response skills and leadership development, we interrupt cycles of violence and recidivism because peer-led care and internal community transformation increase immediate safety and long-term resilience.