Strengthen Communities

Strengthen Communities by Building Relationships and Trust Between the NYPD and Community Members,

Including Youth Across the Five Boroughs

The Foundation has a long history of bringing the police and communities together. Through increased dialogue and positive interactions – including creating meaningful opportunities for youth – we lay the groundwork to resolve neighborhood concerns and enhance safety for all. The public’s partnership with the NYPD is essential to the safety and strength of all our neighborhoods.

From mentorship and career development to scholarships and sports leagues, supporting NYPD engagement with youth is a transformative piece of the Police Foundation’s strategy to build bridges between the police and communities by building trust and creating meaningful opportunities.

Established in 2018 by the Police Foundation and the NYPD, more than 33,000 young people have participated in NYPD OPTIONS Workshops at schools, Administration for Children Services (ACS), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and District Attorney (DA) facilities. Police officers and young people engage in open discussions about real-life situations and the challenges faced by today’s youth and their families. The curriculum uses virtual reality training-based scenarios to promote discussion on emotional intelligence and wellness, decision-making, financial literacy, and healthy communities.

The Police Foundation helped create the Community Partner Program through which 650 community leaders citywide serve as liaisons between local cops and neighborhood residents. Participating officers gained a deeper understanding of the neighborhood culture and more effectively engaged with the community.

The Foundation funded the creation of the 127 Penn NYPD Community Center in East New York, where the Foundation is assisting the Department to expand the recreational, social, and educational services provided to the community, making the Center a key building block of police-community relations.

The Foundation funds the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers Program, which gives young men and women across the city, ages 14 to 20, an introduction to law enforcement and criminal justice careers, resulting in stronger ties between the community and police. Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self-discipline, and respect for diversity and human dignity through training, community service projects, and other events.

Each year, the Foundation grants approximately $20,000 in scholarships to support youth education. The Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Memorial College Fund is given in honor of a 15-year-old Bronx resident and Law Enforcement Explorer who wanted to become a police officer but was killed by a gang member in 2018 in a case of mistaken identity.

Each year the NYPD also kicks off the school year with a Back to School Backpack Giveaway sponsored by the Foundation.

The Foundation, in conjunction with community partners, launched an initiative called #mynycstory, which provided NYC residents with a platform to tell their own story through video, photos, essays, and other media – in some cases, even the opportunity to win a $5,000 cash prize for the best-told story.