Community-Rooted Empowerment

Ensures long-term sustainability and mission advancement by maintaining sound governance and financial management practices.

Implements community-wide prevention strategies and educational outreach on substance abuse through forums, trainings, workshops, and distribution of educational resources in schools and the community. Includes medication take-back events and drop boxes to prevent misuse of prescription drugs.

Provides a five-hour safe driving program including "Alive at 25" training and impact panels to promote legal and safe driving decisions among youth.

Strengthens connections between policymakers, institutions, service providers, and residents through Research Outreach and regular virtual coalition meetings to coordinate community efforts.

Leads a countywide Suicide Prevention Coalition, hosting virtual meetings every other month and delivering education and healing initiatives to raise community awareness and support prevention efforts.

Runs a restorative youth court program as an alternative to the traditional justice system, using peer accountability, community service, and educational sentencing. The program handled approximately 65 cases annually and achieved a 100% success rate in preventing further justice system involvement in 2023 and 2024. Operates five court sites across Ontario County.

Hosts monthly pop-up food pantries and a drive-through food pantry at the Town of Canandaigua Highway Department Barn to increase access to nutritious food for residents in Ontario County, NY.

Provides a safe and supportive environment for youth ages 12–17 through drop-in centers such as Epic Zone, offering meals, homework help, skills development, field trips, and peer engagement activities. Operates in Ontario County, NY.

Offers up to 12 free short-term counseling sessions for Ontario County residents and up to 15 for Geneva City School District students and families, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, group grief counseling, and referrals to long-term care. Services are available in Canandaigua and Geneva.

Operates a Veterans Coalition to support veterans and their families, promote awareness of substance misuse, and coordinate community resources and events.

Convenes local coalitions such as the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity in Elmhurst and the NextSTEPS Coalition to promote collaboration, resource-sharing, and participatory budgeting (The People’s Money). Advocates collectively on policy issues affecting youth and communities.

Operates physical community hubs in East Elmhurst and Queensbridge that provide no-barrier access to programming, resources, and support services. Includes coordination of employment services, college access, mental health support, financial counseling, and tax preparation for public housing residents.

Delivers crisis intervention and in-home support to families at risk of child removal through programs like the Family Enrichment Program and Family Stabilization Program, which include counseling, home visits, skill-building, and service planning. Uses Brief Strategic Family Therapy and other evidence-based models, achieving a 98% success rate in helping families avoid foster care placement.

Provides Fair Futures mentoring for youth in foster care through the Care4 platform, supporting goal achievement in education, employment, and life skills. Achieves an 85% goal completion rate among participants.

Operates job readiness programs featuring over 24 workshops focused on work development, with an 82% completion rate and more than 50% of participants securing employment post-completion. Also connects shelter residents and community members to vocational training and employment opportunities.

Offers mediation services for family, civil, community, and eldercare disputes using trained facilitators, including the Queensbridge Mediation Hub and the NYC Small Claims Virtual Mediation Program. Conducts approximately 700 family and civil mediations and 200 restorative justice circles annually, contributing to a 30% reduction in 311 calls in Queensbridge.

Provides Part 146-approved mediation training in accordance with New York State judicial rules and maintains a panel of over 60 trained volunteer mediators to support community and court-related dispute resolution efforts.

Delivers tutoring, mentoring, academic enrichment, and conflict resolution programming in schools across Brooklyn and Queens, including targeted support for over-aged and under-credited students. Serves approximately 500 students through five youth programs and operates in multiple schools to improve student engagement and educational outcomes.