The safest communities are not the ones with the most police, but the ones with the most resources.

Community Vanguard Program

Through a grant from New York’s Division of Criminal Justice Service, we’ve been able to conduct outreach in the community to find youth ages 18-24 that have been or are most likely to be impacted directly or indirectly by gun violence. These youth are then brought into the REVIVE program where they receive resources and employment opportunities based on their needs and career interests.

A select number of these youth are then hired to create a corps of youth leaders to go back into the community to empower others. This corps of youth leaders, known as Community Vanguards, receive training in community building circle, peer mediation, advocacy, responsive circles, constituency education, mindfulness practice, basic first aid and mental health first responders.

Meet Some of Our Community Vanguards

Community Vanguard - Fartun Hussein
Community Vanguard - O'Shunn Gibson Heny

Fartun Hussein

O’Shunn Gibson Henry

Community Vanguard - Kafiyo Mohamed
Community Vanguard - Hezekiah Jackson

Kafiyo Mohamed

Hezekiah Jackson

Community Vanguard - Brian Boose

Brian Boose

Justin Morris, CEO + Founder

“We take an unorthodox approach to gun violence prevention work by placing ourselves directly in the most vulnerable communities and getting directly in front of the problem.”

— Justin Morris, CEO + Founder.

Other Outreach in Our Community

  • Rochester Family Mission

    Through a grant from Monroe County, we’ve been able to partner with Rochester Family Mission to end cruelty to children, feed over 600 families and connect 16 families to counseling services throughout the city of Rochester, NY.

  • Mark's Home Health Care

    Partnered with NYC-based organization Mark’s Home Health Care to provide 400 underserved and marginalized Rochesterians with free access to PCR examinations and distributed over 10,000 at home rapid Covid tests throughout Monroe county.

  • Coat Drive

    We conducted an anti-violence sweater, coat and t-shirt giveaway at 554 Jefferson Avenue, the site for The Gun Violence Prevention Hub. During this event, UM staff donated 400 coats, sweaters and t-shirts all while promoting the importance of ending gun violence.

  • Cannabis Outreach

    Our staff conducted outreach for Cannabis-related workforce questionnaires. During this outreach, Untrapped Ministries, questioned over 75 community members on their thoughts of legalization of cannabis and its potential effects on the workforce gun violence.

  • The Lox Hip-Hop Summit

    Untrapped Ministries conducted a Hip-Hop summit with multinational recording group, The Lox, where they promoted End Gun Violence campaign — a campaign that is an integral part of UM’s mission.

  • Support for Marlo Joseph

    Untrapped Ministries conducted outreach at the International Market and Mayor Malik Evans presented a City proclamation to 4-year-old Marlo Joseph in celebration of his successful recovery after being shot on North Clinton Avenue in 2022.