The center proposes to create and pilot a gun violence intervention and prevention model to address gun violence in crown heights, brooklyn

This program, the heights, pushes beyond credible messenger models to harness the power of gang networks and leadership with high social capital in the streets to engage the hardest to reach of the highest-risk population; the subset of gun carriers known as the shooters, offensive gun carriers known to shoot to kill and in decreasing gun violence in crown heights and RE-envisioning community safety. The heights has four phases. Phase 1 functions fluidly with the block and provides all high-risk gun-carrying and street-involved community members access to supplies and workshops addressing basic needs. Phases 2 through 4 focus on the subset of gun carriers participants referred to as shooters - the only group of offensive carriers. They work closely with staff who are influential local gang members with high social capital in the streets, as well as a wide array of service providers and cbos, in ongoing sessions to build critical consciousness, access skill-building and employment opportunities, and engage healing modalities to help counteract the serious effects of such extensive trauma exposure. These hardest-to-reach among the highest-risk population for gun violence victimization and perpetration would be connected with the material things they and their networks need to begin healing, build vibrant, and safe communities, and reduce gun violence perpetration. The center will collaborate with the university of illinois chicago (sub-awardee) to conduct the community violence assessment.