Community Guardians Initiative

In which borough should your idea take place? Manhattan

Do you have a specific neighborhood(s) in mind?

Washington Heights

Which audience(s) does your idea help? Select as many as apply.

Youth

Parents

Justice impacted individuals

Limited English proficient individuals

Veterans

Low income individuals

Black, Indigenous, and POC

Older adults

Unemployed individuals

Immigrants and/or migrants

Public housing residents

People with disabilities

Describe the challenge you want to address:

Empower youth volunteers to organize and advocate for public security by creating drug-free and smoke-free zones within a block radius around public schools in District 6 communities, Washington Heights. The “Community Guardians Initiative” aims to address several challenges within District 6 communities in Washington Heights:

1. Substance Abuse 2. Youth Involvement in Substance Abuse 3. Community Safety 4. Limited Access to Support Services 5. Lack of Community Awareness 6. Community Fragmentation 7. Research Gaps

High prevalence of drug and tobacco use in proximity to public schools.
Lack of positive engagement for youth, leading to vulnerability to substance abuse. Concerns about the safety of public spaces around schools due to substance-related activities. Limited access to counseling and support services for individuals dealing with substance abuse. Limited awareness about the detrimental effects of substance abuse and the benefits of creating substance-free zones. Lack of collaboration and coordination among community members, businesses, and local authorities. Limited understanding of the specific impacts of substance-free zones on community well-being.

Describe your idea and approach to address the challenge:

Establishing drug-free and smoke-free zones to mitigate substance abuse issues. Engaging youth volunteers in peer mediation and community advocacy to provide constructive involvement. Implementing outdoor campaigns and community organizing to create safer environments. Enhancing direct social services to provide counseling and support groups for affected individuals and families. Conducting awareness and advocacy campaigns to educate the community and promote a healthier lifestyle. Fostering community organizing efforts to build partnerships and establish a task force for ongoing collaboration. Conducting paid research studies to gather data and insights relevant to the community’s context.

Write the zipcode that best represents your New York City community:

10032