New Settlement Gun Violence Prevention Initiative
A recent surge in gun violence has swept through communities across the City—but nowhere has the violence been more prevalent than in the Bronx. Gun violence in the Bronx was 31% more prevalent in January 2022 than the same time frame a year ago.
The increase in gun violence in The Bronx is a complex problem that demands holistic prevention strategies. With financial support from New York State’s Anti-Violence Initiative, Governor Kathy Hochul, Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner and New Settlement Board Member Jean Cleary, New Settlement has become the lead agency in a Bronx-wide effort to engage our youth in constructive and positive out-of-school time programming that prepare them to seek positive life alternatives, diffuse tensions and contribute to peaceful alternatives to crime and violence. New Settlement is working with two partner organizations, Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club of Castle Hill and the new Northeast Bronx YMCA, to increase community-based services that support the reduction of gun violence by increasing opportunities for youth in our neighborhoods. Together, the program is directly impacting more than 600 Bronx families and reach youth and families in all 17 high-need zip codes identified by this initiative.
Gun Violence Prevention Teen Programs
In 2022 we have expanded community-based programs that will inspire 300 young people ages 12-20 from our surrounding community to engage in positive activities, build employment readiness and leadership skills, and speak out to prevent violence in high-risk communities surrounding the center. We provide evening-hour classes and programming that offer a safe and constructive alternative to the streets. New York State Gun Violence Prevention Initiative funding is supporting expanded youth programming including:
Young Men Establishing the Narrative
A new evening program at the New Settlement Community Center with tools and resources to enhance our young people’s skills and talents, in hopes of creating a pathway of success. The YMEN’s program infuses life skills, current events, arts, and culture with a focus on leadership development, employment readiness, team building, critical thinking, and college and career readiness. It features Advisory Time – one on one counseling with a focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies. The program also offers Job Readiness, and Academic Support, and in the future we will offer college visits and weekend leadership retreats.
Program for Girls and Young Women
PGYW offers a gender specific program to strengthen the resilience and aspirations of girls and young women. With this funding we have expanded and strengthened the Program for Girls and Young Women, increased program enrollment and built a more formal youth development model focusing on girls and prioritizing sexual/emotional health, college and career guidance, leadership development, dance and written word programming, adventure learning and fitness.
Resources
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:
- Coping After Mass Violence
- For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence(En Español)
- Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas
- Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators(En Español)
- Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators
- Talking with Children about Hate Crimes and Anti-Semitism
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After Mass Violence
- Talking to Children about Mass Violence
- Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after Mass Violence
- Psychological Impact of Mass Violence
- Racial Injustices and Trauma: African Americans in the US: NCTSN Position Statement
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
- Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
- The Power of Parenting: How to Help Your Child After a Parent or Caregiver Dies
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
- Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children
- Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español) (for responders)
For more information please contact:
Jimi Orekoya, j.orekoya@newsettlement.org
