Local Gang Members Graduate from Brooklyn DA Violence Prevention Program

By Mary Alice Miller
Thirty Bed Stuy gang members graduated from a first-of-its-kind anti-violence program funded by District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Project Restore, a collaboration between Bridge Street Church, Columbia University, and Inside Circle, was created after the 2021 takedown of members of two local gangs.
Fifteen young men from two gangs were invited to participate in the program. They were paid for participating, received an internship and other job opportunities, and mentors and case managers who worked with them. These men are not part of the indictments, but they are believed to be part of those two gangs. The idea was to reach them before they get ensnared in those types of gang indictments and steer them into a better place.
DA Gonzalez gave heartfelt words to the young men who successfully completed the program and shared his experiences as someone who grew up in Brooklyn.
“To our graduates, I stand here not just as the elected District Attorney but as someone who understands the path you’ve walked. I grew up in circumstances not too different than yours, surrounded by challenges that could have easily defined my future.,” said Gonzalez. “A lot of my friends ended up in prison. I lost loved ones, including family members, to gun violence. I’ve felt the devastating impact of this violence firsthand, and I understand the courage it takes to choose not to respond to violence in our lives with still more violence but to choose a different path.”

Gonzalez spoke of people who took a chance on him by enrolling him in a mentorship program, just as he took a chance on them. “If it weren’t for a few people who took a chance on me, I wouldn’t be here today. Someone took an interest in me and helped me see that I could have a future that was bigger than what I could have imagined for myself at that time. That was a turning point in my life; without that intervention, my life could very easily have taken a different turn,” he said.
“As the chief law enforcement officer in this county, it was a risk for me to be part of this project and put hundreds of thousands of dollars from my own office’s budget to make it happen,” said Gonzalez. “I took the risk because I believed in the potential within each of you to rise above the history of violence that has caused so many young men in our community to be killed or go to prison and to instead become leaders in your community, people with the skills and abilities to make your community better.”
After the 2021 gang takedown, the DA’s office sent a letter to housing associations, community groups in the area, and elected officials. The letter was sent on the day of the takedown to communicate with the community what happened and the actions that were taken. The community was invited to have a conversation about needs and concerns. A Youth Summit was held to allow young people in the community to talk about what safety means to them and what they need to be safe. Project Restore emerged from those discussions.

“I knew that the community was right when it said that if we want lasting safety in our communities, we need young people like yourselves to have the kind of opportunities I had. I was glad to be a part of a project that provided those opportunities,” DA Gonzalez said. “It’s not what most people think of as the job of a DA, and I don’t think any other DA in the country has done something like this. It reflects my view that traditional law enforcement responses to gun violence can only ever be one part of the solution. I am so grateful to members of the community who trusted us to be their partner in imagining and then manifesting another way of responding to violence. I am so very proud of this program and all of you.”
Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman also addressed the graduates.

“You made a decision to join this wonderful program and partner with these community leaders to make a change in your community. That is something to celebrate. I am looking at each and every one of you and thinking about my hopes and dreams for this community as your assembly person, the person who represents you in Albany,” said Zinerman. “Through this program, you have restored this community’s faith in all the young men who look like you. I want you to tell me what inspired you about this program and tell me what you want to do next. It’s not over just because Project Restore has come to an end. This is the beginning of your next steps. Thank you for trusting this process.”
DA Gonzalez expressed his pride in the young men and what they accomplished. “You’re applying for jobs or already have them, you’re getting your G.E.D.s, and some of you are heading to college. You’re stepping up as fathers and as leaders in your community.,” said Gonzalez. “I know that throughout this program, you faced difficult moments that tested your resolve. but the fact that you are all sitting here today is a testament to the fact that true strength lies in choosing peace over violence, dialogue over conflict, and hope over despair.”
DA Gonzalez reminded the young men that “your actions have the power to inspire and lead others who look up to you. What kind of man you choose to be from this point on will affect not only you but your younger siblings, your children, and – I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this – our community for generations to come. Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment. we believe in you, are proud of you, and can’t wait to see the incredible things you will achieve.”
DA Gonzalez is working to obtain financing to replicate the program in other neighborhoods.