Dear Newark Family,

Thank you for being an important partner in our collective future!  Decreasing violence, increasing restorative justice programs and supporting organizations that are on the front lines addressing youth violence is a critical component to Newark’s future.   I am incredibly proud of all of the organizations that encompass the Brick City Peace Collective (BCPC) under the leadership of Executive Director Kyleesha Wingfield-Hill.  This effort is a call to action and shared effort to protect and advance our Newark community.  Through access to funding, resources, technical assistance and capacity building for your organization, we can achieve all of our goals.   Through measurable and data-driven outcomes, we can decrease violence and ultimately save and change lives.

My vision and the mission of BCPC is for the collective to be a catalyst to support violence reduction efforts through access to funding, resources, technical assistance and capacity building for organization working to reduce violence in the city of Newark.  Violence and experiencing trauma are major public health concerns, especially during childhood, because exposure significantly increases the risk of serious health problems. Trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand a person’s life experiences in order to deliver effective care and has the potential to improve engagement, education and health outcomes. The assumption is that the disruptive behaviors associated with the symptoms of surviving trauma originate from a deeper harm, rather than willful defiance, or disrespect. Integrating knowledge about trauma into policies and procedures puts the focus on healing individuals and communities by addressing the causes and conditions that created the trauma in the first place, opposed to increasing how we police and penalize the behaviors of those impacted.

Trauma-informed care requires that we treat trauma in people but provides very little insight into how we might address the root causes of trauma in neighborhoods, families, and schools. If trauma is collectively experienced, this means that we also have to consider the environmental context that caused the harm in the first place. By only treating the individual, we only address part of the equation leaving the toxic systems, policies and practices neatly intact.  When community partners advocate and work together for policies and opportunities that address the causes of trauma, such as lack of access to mental health services, these activities contribute to a sense of purpose, power and control over life situations, which are all ingredients necessary to restore well-being and facilitate healing.

Please utilize the incredible resources, support of the Brick City Peace Collective, and spread the word of their work as it reflects the essence of our Newark Forward Values that everyone in our city can aspire to achieve to truly move us all forward!

Sincerely,

Ras J. Baraka
Mayor

NEWARK FORWARD minus VIOLENCE equals OUR FUTURE