Communities for Safety Collective

Common Justice’s Communities for Safety Collective is a six-month leadership cohort designed to equip New Yorkers with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to shape the future of public safety in their communities.

The Collective is for survivors, directly impacted people, and community members who believe that lasting safety is built by addressing the root causes of violence, investing in communities, and promoting accountability, healing, and prevention.

From January through June 2027, participants will explore how local government and Community Boards influence public safety decisions. Throughout the program, participants will attend Community Board meetings, engage with and learn from like-minded peers, and discuss community-led solutions that advance safety and healing in their neighborhoods without reliance on law enforcement.

By the end of the cohort, participants will be encouraged to actively participate in their Community Board and advocate for public safety solutions that resonate with their values, and will have the opportunity to join Common Justice’s organizing base to continue advancing change beyond the cohort.

If you are a New Yorker who is ready to lead change and reclaim the way we address public safety, this is for you.  

This is a space for anyone affected by community or interpersonal violence or anyone who wants to change the way NYC handles issues of safety. We are looking for someone who wants to build something bold: a collective of people ready to shift narratives, challenge harmful systems, and invest in real solutions. 

Whether you’ve been an advocate for years or you’re just beginning, this program offers tools, training, and community to help you spark meaningful change wherever you are in your journey. 

• Survivors of violence who want to shape community based and humane public safety solutions 

• Credible messengers, including formerly incarcerated leaders, re-entry advocates, and street outreach workers 

• Young leaders (17+ years old) with lived experience who are eager to learn how civic systems work 

• Aspiring storytellers and media makers who want to report, document, and shift the narrative around safety and justice in their neighborhoods 

• Community members invested in learning ways to make their neighborhoods safer without relying on punishment and policing 

• Anyone looking to take the next step to get further involved in their community 

• Monday, January 11th
• Wednesday, January 13th
• Monday, February 8th
• Monday, March 8th
• Monday, April 12th
• Monday, May 10th
• Monday, June 14th