In the South Bronx, a recently-launched initiative called Men Rising is training men working in gun violence prevention to also identify and intervene in domestic violence situations.
The program is part of the Center for Justice Innovation’s RISE project and works with the outreach teams at Save Our Streets (S.O.S.), based out of Lincoln Hospital. They will participate in weekly training and ongoing workshops for six months, with the goal of having the trainees become the trainers out in the community.
Gun violence and gender-based violence are closely linked, and people being abused are five times more likely to be killed if the partner has access to a gun, according to the center.
Men Rising will have a ripple effect in neighborhoods, said RISE Project Manager Karolin Betances in an interview. Street teams are “already facilitating groups and workshops with these young individuals in the community, so we’re just adding that extra layer where they’re able to now start conversations around gender-based violence.”
S.O.S. hires people who, earlier in their lives, were engaged in the same behaviors they now work to prevent. Now, as credible messengers, they’re seen as “changemakers in the community,” making them ideally situated to pass on new skills and knowledge, said Betances.
Julio Morales, uptown community initiative coordinator, said the gender-based and domestic violence training is “adding more tools to the toolbox” for those who already see everything and know everyone on the block.
New Yorkers often have a “mind your business” attitude, but sometimes intervention is necessary, said Morales. Staff will learn to address arguments and negative comments before they become violent incidents, to everyone’s benefit, he said.
Inserting oneself in a random couple’s dispute isn’t easy, but it can save lives, the organizers said.
“At the core of our work is love for our community,” said Betances. “Once we bring in that community aspect, people realize, ‘It is my business.’”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams applauded Men Rising at the group’s July 24 kickoff event at Rosa’s At Park in the South Bronx.
“I’m glad that we’re stepping in and saying that our Black and Brown girls, women, and gender-expansive people are worth protecting, and worth having something for them that can actually address these issues without causing further harm,” Williams said.
The organizers said Men Rising will soon launch a “hyperlocal” awareness campaign and begin hosting events in the South Bronx.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
