Brooklyn nonprofits awarded funding for their restorative justice programs

July 22, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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CITYWIDE — Two Brooklyn organizations are among those that will receive 6.5 million in initial funding over the next year, thanks to a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) and the Institute for State & Local Governance at the City University of New York. The partnership is providing a total of $16.5 million as part of a multiyear initiative. Announced on Monday, July 22, the partnership will support restorative justice work at 16 organizations throughout New York City and reflects the development of innovative community-based conflict resolution that promotes public safety and makes neighborhoods safer and more livable. The Brooklyn winners for 2024 are Bushwick-based Make the Road New York, which will further build restorative justice programming into their Youth Power Project by establishing a Restorative Justice Youth Leaders corps (RJYL) at the Bushwick Campus Community School as well as offering RJ programming to students and youth in their community centers. We Build the Block will expand their Heal the Violence program, which uses targeted cognitive behavioral therapy interventions, healing circles and restorative practices to serve three additional cohorts of young adults in Brooklyn-based housing developments experiencing gun violence.

Restorative justice is a set of principles and practices that can be applied in response to conflict or harm in order to strengthen community by fostering communication and empathy. Restorative justice creates pathways for accountability, self-determination and connection through healing and personal transformation.

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