COMMUNITY CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INC

Social Distancing People of color in Queensbridge and other under-resourced neighborhoods face various obstacles in their daily lives. This past year, with the addition of COVID-19 and the increased recognition of race-based violence and injustice, there has been an unearthing of preexisting conditions. This would explain why this virus has spread so widely and has had such a disproportionate impact on the communities we serve. Young people of color, particularly those residing in low-income and underserved communities, are among the most vulnerable to experience long-lasting adverse effects. Many have already experienced trauma in their lives, directly and indirectly, and the events of the past year have only exacerbated these adverse impacts. CCD has responded swiftly to the COVID-19 pandemic through several initiatives and services provided to our communities in need, including but not limited to: providing PPE's, health resource information, grief counseling, perishable and non perishable food, and whatever other resources or needs arise in the communities most in need during this unprecedented time. Also, during our Safe Summer events, we were able, through the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs, to provide on-site COVID-19 informational vans with COVID testing and vaccine information and shots. CCD's services empower and transform our communities, not only to end gun and community violence, but to become a worldwide tool in black and brown communities. Our belief is when you invest in the community, the community invests back in itself. The work we have done has allowed us to be one of New York City's premier gun violence prevention programs, with a documented 365-day period where the 696 Build Queensbridge program recorded zero-gun crimes, which was a first in the area in decades. CCD is committed to continue our success in drastically decreasing the number of gun arrests, homicides, felony arrests, major crime, shooting incidents and more through our public health approach. The CCD methodology is to evaluate the specific needs of any given community and its members, before executing on any plans, creating an open dialogue with the communities and their members, encouraging their involvement in improvements. Our approach to addressing these needs is to take a public health approach in the underserved communities we serve.