What they reported doing
- #1 primary $212KTHROUGHOUT THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 2024, TO JUNE 30, 2025, LIFE CAMP CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED SUPPORT TO NYC YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS. THIS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. OUR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ADDRESSING HIGH RATES OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: A. GIANT THINKINGS MIND UP CLASS: PROVIDED PARTICIPANTS WITH A PROGRAM THATUTILIZED PHYSICAL EXERCISE TO ALLEVIATE STRESS AND ENHANCE MENTAL CLARITY. PARTICIPANTS BENEFITED FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES AIMED AT REDUCING STRESS LEVELS AND IMPROVING COGNITIVE FUNCTION. B. FINANCIAL LITERACY: PARTICIPANTS ACQUIRED INVALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE PRINCIPLES OF SAVING AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT, TRANSCENDING MERE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS. THIS KNOWLEDGE EQUIPS THEM WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO NAVIGATE PERSONAL FINANCES, MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, AND CULTIVATE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY, EMPOWERING THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND SECURE THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES. C. URBAN YOGIS: PARTICIPANTS DEEPLY ENGAGED IN MEDITATION AND YOGA SESSIONS, CULTIVATING A PROFOUND SENSE OF INNER PEACE AND OVERALL WELL- BEING. FOR PARTICIPANTS, THIS PRACTICE SERVES AS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR MANAGING STRESS, TRAUMA, AND CHALLENGING EMOTIONS, OFFERING A PATHWAY TO HEALING AND RESILIENCE AMIDST ADVERSITY. D. ANIMATION INITIATIVE: AN 8-12 WEEK PROGRAM HEAVILY CONCENTRATED ON ARTS EDUCATION, DJING, COMPOSITION AND RECORDING, GRAPHIC AND FASHION DESIGN, ANIMATION, AND FILM AND TV PRODUCTION. PROGRAMMING OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WHILE CREATING A SPACE FOR PERSONAL EXPLORATION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL INTERESTS. E. ANTI GUN VIOLENCE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THE ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (AGVEP) OPERATES AS A YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE TAILORED FOR INDIVIDUALS AGED 14 TO 24 WHO FACE THE RISK OF EITHER PERPETUATING OR FALLING VICTIM TO GUN VIOLENCE. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN PROJECTS CRAFTED TO FOSTER SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT, AIMING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE WHILE NURTURING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. F. WORK LEARN GROW: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES PAID INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER READINESS TRAINING TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THERE IS A FOCUS ON BUILDING UPON SKILLS LEARNED THROUGH THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SYEP). THE PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE CAREER PATHS, DEVELOP ESSENTIAL WORK SKILLS, AND EVEN EARN COLLEGE CREDIT. G. SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NYC YOUTH AGED 14 TO 24 AND INVALUABLE CAREER EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES ALONGSIDE PAID WORK EXPERIENCE DURING EACH SUMMER. SYEP EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS TO DELVE INTO DIVERSE INTERESTS AND CAREER PATHS, FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE WORKPLACE HABITS WHILE ENGAGING IN ENRICHING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT BOLSTER THEIR SOCIAL, CIVIC, AND LEADERSHIP PROFICIENCIES. SUPERVISING FIVE SCHOOLS, LIFE CAMP SERVED A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF 3,000 STUDENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE PROGRAMS.
- #2 $1.69MTHE THERAPEUTIC WELLNESS DEPARTMENT (TWS) PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES AND WELLNESS ACTIVATIONS TO 10,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IN SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, CBOS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION. THOSE IMPACTED INCLUDED HIGH-RISK YOUTH AFFECTED BY TRAUMA, PARENTS COPING WITH THE LOSS OF CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE, AND FRONTLINE STAFF FACING STRESS. THESE SERVICES ENCOMPASSED A RANGE OF EVENTS SUCH AS ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH. ADDITIONALLY, 1,000 REFERRALS WERE MADE TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND EMERGENCY HOUSING, ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
What they call their work
What they do
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Community Festival & Event Production 2 activities
- Annual Peace Week in New York CityOrganizes an annual week-long Peace Week in New York City featuring multiple events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including community gatherings, wellness activations, and public engagements. Hosted Peace Week NYC in 2023 as a flagship event.
- Queens Wellness Day and citywide peace rideHosts Queens Wellness Day, convening elected officials, community organizations, and wellness leaders to emphasize mental and physical health in urban development. Organized a peace-promoting ride through all five boroughs of New York City.
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Gun Violence Prevention & Intervention 2 activities
- Community-based violence intervention and prevention programOperates a daily violence intervention program in Southeast Queens using Violence Intervention and Prevention Specialists to mediate conflicts, de-escalate gun violence, mentor youth, and prevent entry into the school-to-prison pipeline. The program has achieved 562 consecutive days without shootings and reduced violence by 80% in its catchment area, with over 10,000 youth and families impacted since inception.
- Leadership training on community wellness and gun violenceHosted a week-long immersive training for 31 senior and executive leaders from 21 cities focused on addressing gun violence through community wellness and public safety strategies.
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Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Fresh food distribution for food-insecure familiesDistributes fresh organic produce to over 150 families in food-insecure environments through a partnership with Queens Botanical Garden, addressing social determinants of health.
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Facility-Based Service Delivery 1 activity
- Mobile peace outreach unit in Southeast QueensOperates a mobile unit (RV) as a visible symbol and outreach tool for peace and community wellness in Southeast Queens, serving as a landmark and platform for engagement.
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 1 activity
- Public wellness media and resource initiativesProduces and shares public episodes featuring staff and community leaders discussing wellness tips, hosts weekly "Feel Good Fridays" live sessions on Instagram every Friday at 10 PM EST, and makes available a "Roadmap to Healing" resource for community use.
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Direct Mental Health Counseling and Support Services 1 activity
- Therapeutic and mental health support servicesProvides direct therapeutic services including stress reduction, grief counseling, and mental health support to traumatized youth, grieving parents, and community members, delivering 472 hours of care to 3,103 individuals. Also made 1,000 referrals to mental health and emergency housing services.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Youth employment and development programRuns a year-round employment program for individuals aged 14 to 24 at risk of gun violence, engaging them in projects that promote social responsibility, personal development, and workforce readiness.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocacy for coordinated community peace-keeping initiativesAdvocates for unified peace-keeping efforts among Communities of Men Stopping the Violence (CMS) and partner organizations through press conferences and public statements, including events held at New York City Hall.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERICA FORD | CHIEF EXEC O | 40 | $200K |
| ANN-KERRY JEAN-CHARLES | CFO | 40 | $140K |
| ROBIN D KEARSE | CWO | 40 | $140K |
| TIFFANY LAMELA | CO-EXEC. DIR | 40 | $140K |
| DIANA LEMON | CO-EXEC. DIR | 40 | $127K |
| ROBERT A HOGAN | CSO | 40 | $125K |
| MCCLAY ROGER | DEPUTY CHIEF | 40 | $114K |
- ADINA CALLENDER — MEMBER
- CRYSTAL MCCRARY MCGUIRE — MEMBER
- EDDIE STERN — BOARD CHAIR
- JED MICHEL — TREASURER
- JENNIFER BANDIER — MEMBER
- REBECCA PAREKH — MEMBER
Who they work with
- Black & Brown Peace Consortium Partner — Co-hosted the inaugural CVILA Practicum to combat gun violence.
- CMS Organizations Partner — Collaborates with CMS Organizations on citywide peace-building events including rides and advocacy campaigns
- Chuck Schumer Government — Recognized support from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer
- Erica Ford Partner — Founder and CEO of LIFE Camp Incorporated
- Grace Meng Government — Recognized support from U.S. Representative Grace Meng
- NYC CMS Partner — Collaborates with NYC CMS sites to organize Peace Week events and peace-keeping initiatives
- NYPD Partner — Hosted the Practicum at the NYPD Training Academy in College Point, NY.
- New York Mets Partner — Collaborated on a community event and fundraiser at Citi Field featuring a game and tailgate party.
- Queen Afua Partner — Recommended provider of wellness products ("Breath of Life") used in LIFE Camp's wellness programming.
- Queens Botanical Garden Partner — Collaborated to provide fresh organic produce to over 150 families in food-insecure environments.
- Tamika DMallory Partner — Co-hosts "Feel Good Fridays" wellness sessions with LIFE Camp Inc on Instagram.
- University of Chicago Partner — Collaborated on the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) Practicum.
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 Mobilization and Peace Mobilizationmethodology: community-mobilizationBy uniting organizations and deploying mobile outreach, we amplify peace-building efforts and maintain visibility in high-need areas because sustained collective action and physical presence disrupt cycles of violence and reinforce community trust.
- Integrated Mind-Body Practices for Trauma Responsemethodology: align_restoring_balance_and_calmBy combining breath and relaxation techniques with alkaline-promoting nutrition, we restore mental, emotional, and physical balance after trauma or stress because physiological and psychological systems are interdependent in sustaining health.
- Personal Accountability for Wellbeingmethodology: personal_accountability_for_wellbeingBy equipping individuals with tools and education for inner peace, we produce community wellness and sustainable behavioral change because personal responsibility for mental and emotional health strengthens collective resilience.
- Public Health Approach to Violence Preventionmethodology: public_health_approach_to_violenceBy treating gun violence as a public health crisis, we reduce community trauma and prevent cycles of violence because addressing root causes through education, wraparound services, and systems-level intervention produces sustainable behavioral and systemic change.
- Resilience-Based Community Developmentmethodology: resilience-based_community_developmentBy building community resilience through addressing root social and economic threats, we foster long-term sustainability and prevent violence because systemic investment in community well-being enables collective flourishing.