United Way of New York City, The Fortune Society, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Launch Atlas HOPE Initiative

Stakeholders met with community partners to discuss the $3 million investment in the South Bronx Community for a violence intervention and workforce development program.

NEW YORK CITY - October 29, 2024 - Leaders fromUnited Way of New York City, The Fortune Society, and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development's (DYCD) Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) are proud to announce the launch of Atlas HOPE, a community violence intervention designed to serve men at the highest risk of engaging in community violence. This deployment, which is supported by a $3 million investment from DYCD, funds programs that address persistent patterns of rearrest by better engaging people with high levels of trauma who face barriers to housing, employment, and healthcare. Geared at garnering a brighter future, the program's name stands for Healing, Opportunity, Progress and Empowerment.

United Way of New York City, The Fortune Society, and DYCD's Office of Neighborhood Safety will hold a roundtable discussion today with existing and potential partners to share how Atlas HOPE will support the South Bronx community. The program creates a continuum of care for adult men most likely to engage in serious community violence and least likely to receive the supportiveservices necessary to end cycles of trauma and violence. By reducing barriers to engagement in services, Atlas HOPE creates a pathway to stable, unsubsidized employment and provides the hope, resources, and capacity to chart a successful way forward.

"Empowering New Yorkers with the tools needed to thrive is our goal at United Way of New York City, and of course that includes New Yorkers who have been system-involved," said Grace Bonilla, President and CEO at United Way of New York City. "Partnerships like this reflect the crux of our mission and we are honored to be a part of this important work as we collaborate with the Fortune Society and DYCD's ONS to shift the focus away from incarceration to investing in communities and people."

"Atlas Hope is a crucial step towards creating safer, more resilient communities in the South Bronx," said Stanley Richards, President and CEO of The Fortune Society and Bronx native. "This initiative addresses systemic trauma and the root causes of violence by providing credible messaging and tangible opportunities for economic empowerment, thereby embodying our commitment to justice, equity, and a holistic community and its well-being. We are proud to be a part of this transformative work to create deep and lasting change in our community."

Atlas is an existing collaboration, launched in 2020, between DYCD's Office of Neighborhood Safety and United Way of New York City. The mission of Atlas is to improve public safety and to enhance the capacity of community-based organizations across the five boroughs to serve people at an elevated risk of community violence involvement by addressing barriers to opportunity. The community violence intervention shifts the focus away from incarceration, to investing in communities and people. From wrap-around services to CBI, and stabilized employment, Atlas HOPE-one of the newest programs launched under DYCD's ONS-demonstrates the importance of a continuum of care for those in our community at the highest risk of violence.

"DYCD is excited to expand our strong partnership with United Way of New York City, The Fortune Society, and our community-based partners to launch Atlas HOPE. This initiative supports Mayor Adams' commitment to New Yorkers who are justice-involved and at the highest risk of violence, by providing opportunities to transform their lives, and become productive members of society, their communities, and their families," said Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. "By offering internships, basic resources, and wrap-around services, we are helping to disrupt the prison pipeline, and put participants on a path to career and life success."

To learn more about UWNYC and how you can get involved, visit https://unitedwaynyc.org/get-involved/.