Our Survey Results Are Out!
Black-led Grassroots Orgs Most Eager Community Group in NYC to Implement Police-Community Relations Projects. One of nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations says Black & Brown groups willing to do the work even in the face of racism.
NEW YORK – According to a new survey conducted by Citizens Committee for New York City (CitizensNYC) in June, Black-led grassroots groups in NYC often feel anxious around the NYPD but understand law enforcement serves a necessary role in the community. Most say, however, it’s time for the nation to reinvent and modernize police strategies and programs. If granted additional funding, data shows grassroots leaders who are Black are the most willing to start implementing police-community projects right away. Survey results also revealed that grassroots orgs are stepping up to support youth engagement projects during the COVID-19 crisis, while official state and city programs laid dormant. The majority of grassroots leaders in NYC come from all backgrounds and many are highly educated.
Grassroots leaders were already planning to engage thousands of youth this summer, despite the city’s last minute decision to fund Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
More than a third of organizations who participated in the survey who do not currently engage in police-community relations would engage in the work, if there were funding to do so.
20% of respondents (100 groups) are currently doing police-community relations work.
More than 80% of community leaders who received funding from CitizensNYC hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
80% of community leaders who participated in the survey support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Citizens NYC is one of the nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations. The group raises money from foundations, corporations, and individual donors throughout New York City in order to award neighborhood groups the funding necessary to carry out their projects -- often standing in the gap where social services fall short in low-income communities.
“Our institutions need to engender trust and to ensure all are safe and have access to opportunity. New Yorkers have always served as a guiding light for others. Citizens Committee is using its vast network of community leaders to tell the story of what folks are doing on-the ground to combat the issues of our time.
We must amplify the voices of Black & Brown leaders with politicians and key institutions. At CitizensNYC we are actively listening to our grantees. All of New York needs to be elevating the voices of our community leaders, because they are the ones doing the necessary work, while the NYPD and state work to address our challenges.” -- Rahsaan Harris, PhD (Chief Executive Officer, CitizensNYC)
CitizensNYC will host community discussions this summer, virtually, in an effort to mobilize grassroots groups who are in need of support; also to invite neighborhood leaders to be a part of its network and take part in its resources.
Upcoming COVID Conversations on Facebook Live
Thursday, July 30, noon ET
Charlane Brown, Esq. NYPD Deputy Inspector (Ret.)
Thursday, August 20, noon ET
River Fields , Co-President, 400 Bainbridge Street Block Association, Co-Founder, The Rusty and River Fields Foundation
Rusty Fields, Co-President, 400 Bainbridge Street Block Association, Co-Founder, The Rusty and River Fields Foundation Board Member, Community Board 3
About Citizens Committee for New York City
Citizens Committee for New York City’s mission is to help New Yorkers - especially those in low-income areas - come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Residents are uniquely situated to define and act on the issues affecting their communities. When provided with modest support, neighborhood and school groups can effectively mobilize with the assistance of grants, skills building workshops, project planning assistance and an equipment share library. In 2019, we provided 596 projects with $2.3 million in grants and services, impacting more than 130,000 residents in 164 different neighborhoods across the five boroughs. Since 1975, we have promoted the spirit of volunteerism, local engagement, and social justice that drives our work.