As NYC Council Embraces Community-Led Safety, CitySafe Launches City-Wide Violence Prevention Training

Feb 2

In a city of over eight million people, professional emergency services are often minutes away, but in a crisis, seconds matter. At CitySafe, we believe the true “first responders” aren’t always wearing a uniform; they are the coworkers, neighbors, and commuters already on the scene. This proactive initiative is designed to close the “Vulnerability Gap” by moving beyond basic compliance and building genuine, life-saving confidence in every New Yorker.

A Mission Rooted in Community

This series is free to the public, made possible through the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, funded by the NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS). The Dwyer Program is a vital statewide initiative focused on lowering the risk of veteran suicide by fostering social interaction and community building. By partnering with CitySafe, we are creating a unique space where veterans and their families can participate alongside their neighbors. While CitySafe focuses on our public safety goals, this partnership ensures that veterans and their loved ones have a proactive way to engage with their community, build new social bonds, and work toward a shared mission of local resilience.

The Changing NYC Safety Landscape

We are launching this series at a pivotal moment for our city as the legislative landscape shifts toward community-led models. The NYC Council is currently moving to create a Department of Community Safety through Intro 0002-2026, a non-police agency designed to handle non-violent emergency responses and mental health crises. Additionally, Speaker Julie Menin recently unveiled a Five-Point Action Plan to combat rising threats to sensitive locations, which includes a mandate for community-based security training. CitySafe provides the "human infrastructure" needed to make these policies successful, transforming legislative vision into practical, street-level skills.

Our Educational Approach

Our curriculum is built on three pillars of preparedness specifically tailored for high-movement urban environments. First, we focus on Situational Awareness, teaching participants to recognize environmental cues and danger early to avoid conflict entirely. Second, we cover De-escalation, utilizing proven verbal and psychological tools to diffuse tension before it leads to violence. Finally, we provide training in Defensive Tactics, offering practical and legal physical skills designed for the realities of modern city life. By mastering these pillars, participants move from being bystanders to empowered community members.

5 Months, 5 Boroughs, 1 Mission

From March through July, we will be traveling to every borough to host these monthly sessions, moving through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. We take pride in creating a training environment that is safe and inclusive, as reflected in the feedback from past participants like Denise, who noted that our instructors put everyone at ease and made the training "enjoyable, safe, and enlightening." New York is our home, and its safety is our collective responsibility. Whether you are a veteran, a family member, or a concerned neighbor, we invite you to join this unified, city-wide network of resilient New Yorkers.

Help Build a Safer NYC

As we bring the 2026 NYC Violence Prevention Series to all five boroughs, we are opening the door for community partners, elected officials, and organizations to help us scale this mission. We believe that safety is a collaborative effort, and there are several ways your organization can support the series:

Host a Workshop: Do you have a community room, gym, or large office space? By providing a venue, you help make this training accessible to your immediate neighborhood.

Marketing & Outreach: Help us reach the New Yorkers who need this most by sharing the series with your network, newsletter, or local community boards.
Event Tabling: Organizations focused on veteran services, mental health, or community safety are invited to table at our events to provide additional support to participants.
Boost Attendance: Sponsor a specific session to help us provide materials and resources for a larger group of local residents.

If you are interested in hosting a workshop, marketing the series, or tabling at one of our upcoming events, please click the link below to join our mission.

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