Hope in Action Anti-Violence Project, Task Force Formed To Help Youth In Baltimore County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Several new initiatives have been unveiled to help with crime prevention efforts in Prince George's County. The new initiatives include “The Hope Collective,” a group of non-profits receiving grants through the Hope in Action Anti-Violence Project, as well as the official formation of the violence prevention task force.

“We are continuing to take every action possible to stop the rise of violent crime in our county, especially among our youth,” Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said. “I am asking parents across Prince George’s County to check in with their kids. Ask them what’s going on, ask them what they need, ask them if they are scared or stressed out and ask them why. We need to come together to better understand what is going on with the children of our community, because the government cannot reverse this rise in violent crime alone.”

The county executive also shared that 16 non-profits have received grant funding from the county’s Hope in Action Anti-Violence Project. These nonprofits, known together as the Hope Collective, will provide school-based and community wraparound services in areas where violent crime is an issue. Programming will include services such as diversion/re-entry, youth mentoring, after-school enrichment and employment assistance.

The violence prevention task force happens to be another key component of the Hope in Action Anti-Violence Project. The task force, which includes 20 community members, will help identify areas of need in the county and create a plan to aid in resource sharing between nonprofits and stakeholders, while also developing short and long-term strategies to prevent violence. Additional details regarding membership of the task force and Hope Collective are further below.

PGPD Police Chief Malik Aziz also provided several updates on crime prevention efforts, which include strategies that specifically target violent crime, juvenile offenders, carjackings and stolen vehicles. Since January 2021, PGPD has removed over 1,600 weapons/guns off county streets through crime prevention initiatives. PGPD also has launched the youth round table discussion program, which allows youth to engage in an open and honest conversation with law enforcement and community leaders. Youth are given a seat at the table to express the real concerns they have and offer solutions to law enforcement and county leadership.

PGPD has formed a new partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and the Police Athletic League, too, which will provide youth with more targeted programs and activities throughout the year. Programming will focus on several outcomes to include good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyle choices.

Violence Prevention Task Force members include:

1. Jeanette Brandon
2. Colton Campbell
3. Crystal Carpenter
4. Andrea Coleman
5. Mayor Cashenna Cross
6. Cathleen Rozanski-Cruz
7. Delonta Davis
8. Shannon Diane
9. Jeffrey Hammond
10. Jarriel Jordan, Sr.
11. Lavon Lucas
12. Alyson Moore
13. Steven Nwamkpa
14. Tosha O’Neal
15. Lisa Price
16. Julius Turner
17. Eileen Sutton
18. Noah Waters
19. Kelly Woodall
20. Charlena Young

Hope Collective members include:

1. Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF): Grant supports the Community Transformation Program, which provides essential services and resources related to food, housing, healthcare and jobs to minority and low-income communities.
2. Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY): Grant supports Mental Health for Violence Reduction campaign which combines community outreach, training and public education with pro bono mental health services for uninsured and low-income victims.
3. Community Ministry of Prince George’s County: Grant will help meet human service needs, reduce achievement gaps in education and reduce health inequities in selected communities, targeting young people ages 10-24.
4. DanceMakers, Inc.: Grant will provide STEAM-based instructional activities for youth to include tutoring, homework support and project-based enrichment and recreation that develop teamwork, leadership and academic skills.
5. District Heights Youth Development Foundation: Grant will provide a continuum of services that include mental/behavioral health counseling and activities that support flourishing families from the expressive arts to college and career exploration.
6. End Time Harvest Ministries: Grant will support ongoing workforce development programs for middle and high school students, including summer internships.
7. EVOLVE, Inc.: Grant will create PSAs targeting youth and focusing on anti-violence, mental health, stress management and self-care.
8. Jacob’s Ladder, Inc.: Grant will support ongoing programs for youth, including juvenile reentry, diversion, academic enrichment, Junior Workforce Academy and TeenPreneur workshops and challenges.
9. Latin American Youth Center: Grant will support ongoing programming to support youth with a successful transition into adulthood with a focus on increasing academic achievement, youth protective factors and healthy behaviors.
10. Lead4Life, Inc.: Grant will support re-entry services for youth involved with the criminal justice system to decrease recidivism and youth transitioning into the adult criminal justice system.
11. Maple Springs Community Services Corporation (MSCSC): Grant will help launch a Community Resource Center in Capitol Heights to help eligible community members find, train for and obtain employment.
12. Mission of Love Charities, Inc.: Grant will support the Workforce Development, Education and Job Training Program, which provides training in employable skills, computer skills, language skills, meeting planning and courses leading to certifications.
13. One Love Life Center (OLLC): Grant will provide mentoring, case management, therapeutic/counseling services, recovery supports and workforce development training to distressed, transitional-aged youth who experience substance use and trauma-induced mental health challenges.
14. People for Change Coalition: Grant will support the implementation of a summer career enrichment program for middle and high school students from at-risk communities in the County.
15. The Training Source, Inc.: Grant will provide programming to youth ages 14 to 24 with barriers to success, including community supportive services, job training, job placement assistance and college and career readiness.
16. World Arts Focus dba Joe’s Movement Emporium: Grant will support the CreateTEENS program, which aims to address the mental health of teens by offering them a safe space to refine social skills, develop a creative mindset and gain the confidence that develops a better sense of self.