At Risk Movement Mission Statement

Mission:
The At Risk Movement exists to prevent violence and reduce deaths among low-income young men and women from marginalized communities and struggling families. We are committed to redirecting high-risk young adults away from destructive street culture and toward sustainable opportunities in employment, education, career development, and entrepreneurship.

Purpose:
Our purpose is to empower and uplift youth who are at risk of becoming another statistic. We offer mentoring and intervention services specifically for court-involved youth and those living in high-risk or underserved communities. Through strategic engagement and direct community action, the At Risk Movement aims to lower violence and improve life outcomes in the communities we serve.

The Need for the At Risk Movement

According to data from NYC.gov:

• In November 2020, arrests increased by 112.3% (484 vs. 228), driving a 22.2% increase in citywide gun arrests compared to the same period in 2019.

• Citywide shootings rose 112.5% for the month (115 vs. 51), with a 95.8% increase in shootings across the first 11 months of 2020 (1,412 vs. 721).

• Homicides increased by 38.4% in 2020 (422 vs. 305), with 28 people murdered in November alone — five more than the same month the previous year.

These numbers represent more than statistics. They reflect real lives lost, families broken, and communities under siege.

How the At Risk Movement Changes the Trajectory

1. Culture Shifting

We work to shift neighborhood cultures away from violence and toward empathy, understanding, and growth. Culture is defined here as the beliefs, social forms, and behaviors of a group, and our mission is to evolve that culture from conflict to compassion, from survival to thriving.

2. Empathy Building

Violence often stems from seeing others as adversaries or “outsiders.” Our training programs teach high-risk youth to recognize shared experiences and socioeconomic struggles. By cultivating empathy, we reduce the likelihood of violence and increase community solidarity.

3. Community Stakeholder Development

We train formerly incarcerated individuals, or “returning citizens,” to become Community Messenger Mentors, credible voices who can relate directly to today’s youth. These leaders help deescalate conflict, guide young people, and provide mentorship in career development and life skills, becoming key stakeholders in transforming their communities.

4. Violence Interruption

We work in partnership with community members in city hot spots, areas most impacted by violence, to interrupt and deescalate potential conflicts. Through street-level engagement and relationship-building, we help shift these war zones into safer, thriving neighborhoods.

Our Services

The At Risk Movement provides services to organizations and programs working with clients from high-risk communities. We offer:

• One-on-one and group mentoring

• Life skills and personal development training

• Workshops, curriculum development, and community events

• Career readiness and entrepreneur development

• Engagement with credible messengers who have lived experience

• Support for court-involved youth, probationers, parolees, and returning citizens

Our Vision

To transform high-risk communities from within — one youth, one mentor, and one opportunity at a time. We believe that when empowered with the right tools, guidance, and belief in their worth, even the most at-risk individuals can become the changemakers their communities need.

At Risk Movement Mission Statement 2021 © G.S. Brooks