Victoria Carson’s Post

My latest column for Police1: a new fellowship program wants more applications from rural law enforcement and corrections officers. You know how your area is damaged by opiate abuse, and you probably have at least one idea for fixing that. The Reaching Rural Initiative exists to help you make that concept a reality.

Erie, PA, improved police-community trust and eased tensions with our Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships program. Discover how CRS guided Erie in identifying and executing effective solutions to its challenges: https://lnkd.in/ePGsRinD

Last night's session of the Community Policing Council in the Foothills Command area was well attended by residents voicing their concerns, with representation from the police command, the mayor's office, and several neighborhood associations. We also learned about the extent of services offered by Goodwill Industries, specifically regarding job training, case management, and housing. A recurring theme of these meetings, held the 2nd Monday of each month from 6-8 pm, is that many of the social issues residents are most concerned about have complex causes that require a nuanced, multifaceted approach beyond police measures. As an example, youth committing crime is best mitigated by expanded opportunities and services geared towards youth, rather than merely increasing policing of youth. Attendees of the meeting are encouraged to speak, regardless of their politics, perspectives, or opinions. The purpose is to engage in dialogue and to come together to find solutions to community issues and to make recommendations to policymakers and legal entities for consideration. The Foothills Command has one opening remaining if you would like to serve on the council. If you live in another district, your local community policing council likely has vacancies. The positions are voluntary. As a council person, I am giving the opportunity to also review complaints filed against police, as well as the responses by the Community Police Oversight Agency. This is a unique opportunity. Not every city offers community members this level of involvement. https://lnkd.in/gayGdkjb

What is community justice? A community- first, person-centred approach tackling the root cause of behaviour. It teaches skills and increases self-worth, resulting in less crime being committed. By keeping people in the community and not isolated from society, they learn, they integrate, and they contribute. 👇

Building mutual trust between police and communities is vital. Our Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships programs do just that, fostering a safer environment for all. Discover how these initiatives transform ideas into actionable plans: https://lnkd.in/eFBKcMJq

📣Appropriations Update 📣 We want to thank everyone who took action this week to protect funding for @AmeriCorps & @AmeriCorpsNCCC, and the vital resources they provide community-based organizations all over the country. This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would jeopardize more than 71,000 AmeriCorps positions, risking the loss of vital resources for community-based organizations all over the country in 2026. Congress still has opportunities to protect and strengthen this funding, and we’ll need advocates like you to voice your support in the months ahead. ➡️️ TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to reconsider this decision and protect funding for AmeriCorps by filling out this form, bit.ly/CCFY25, or share this and tag your representative, asking them to #Stand4Service [Image description: 1 graphic a black background saying, ‘Congress just jeaprodized 71,000 AmeriCorps positions, including vital roles at FoodCorps' and all capitalized text saying, ‘take action.’]

#CityofAuburn Reevaluate outreach: Consolidate efforts and align missions. Bring outreach work into the city government and pay people livable wages. Less turnover means better outcomes. Strengthen shelters: Channel resources into shelters, improve conditions, and increase staff compensation to curtail turnover. Make shelters spaces of growth and transition. Stop the flow: Implement programs that intervene before eviction occurs, offering support in exchange for participation. Lessen the inflow of new homelessness cases. Essential services: Integrate essential services within shelters. Empower individuals to access health care, employment resources, and social services without stepping outside. It’s time we recognize our own role in shaping the outcome of homelessness and redouble our efforts to provide opportunities for change. We need to acknowledge our shared responsibility in perpetuating homelessness. We need to diagnose the true issue. We need policy made in the name of compassion to meet the reality of accountability. If not, how much longer can we pretend we’re talking about supportive housing? Kent Hay is the director of anti-homelessness for the city of Auburn.

As part of our work at United Network of Young Peacebuilders, the American Youth Advocacy Team (Am-YAT) is launching a Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in the Americas to promote meaningful youth engagement in policy and practice, at all levels of decision-making in the American region. 📣Your input is crucial to understand how youth can impact: 1️⃣ Conflict resolution and prevention 🕊️ 2️⃣ Advocacy for human rights, environment, and peace 🌱 3️⃣ Unity in diversity 🌎 Respond here: https://lnkd.in/eUkxiHCE

Our 2023/24 Annual Stats are here... and it’s been another record-breaking year 🎉 The number of Licensed Organisations delivering the DofE rose by 5% to 4,765 - including 159 new secondary schools, 109 centres supporting young people with SEND, 58 new community organisations, 19 new FE colleges and six new prisons and other secure settings. We’re making great progress – but there’s more work to be done, particularly to give more young people living in poverty the chance to take part. With the support of our generous partners and funders, in 2024/25 the DofE will work to reach more secondary schools, youth justice settings and community organisations. Here are some ways you can support our work ➡ https://bit.ly/3NRQhv8

In our research, Chapin Hall found that African American youth in the United State have an 83% greater risk of reporting homelessness than other racial groups. Whether they live in cities, suburbs or rural areas, Black youth are disproportionately affected by housing instability. This November, during #YouthHomelessnessAwarenessMonth, let’s commit to centering Black youth in creating new programs, services, and strategies for preventing and addressing housing instability. Let’s move upstream of this problem by supporting youth and their families at times of trauma that can lead to housing instability. And let’s support evidence-based coordinated homeless prevention models like adaptations of the Australian Geelong Project, which provides for universal screening in schools followed by tailored case management and support. Let’s commit to being there for Black youth today, so that they, and their enormous potential, can be there, whole and healthy, for all of us in the future.