Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced $2.75 million in grant funding to 34 community-based organizations for the second phase of her office’s Community Youth Development and Crime Prevention Project (CYDCPP). The District Attorney’s initiative, originally launched in July 2021, aims to provide youth activities and wraparound services to help prevent crime and keep young people out of the criminal justice system.

District Attorney Katz said: “This program has proven to be a resounding success, with more than 14,000 individual youth participants gaining crucial hands-on training and guidance on conflict resolution, civic engagement, mental health support, STEM programs, college readiness workshops and much more. The recipients of the funding in 2021 have helped to empower our youth while increasing public safety in this borough. I look forward to the implementation of even more wraparound services provided to the young people of Queens through this latest round of funding by my office.”

The goals of CYDCPP are to facilitate a collaborative and community-driven approach to foster positive relationships between communities and law enforcement, reduce youth crime, improve self-confidence among young people, increase exposure to positive adult role models, as well as improve academic performance and school attendance.

Following the completion of the two-year based grants in 2023, DA Katz announced a new request for proposals (RFP) earlier this year and the selected recipients were notified last month.

The program will consist of 21 organizations that were previously funded in 2021, as well as 13 new community-based organizations focused on providing socio-emotional learning, workforce development training, school supplies, SAT and homework prep, college tours, and entrepreneurship business strategies for Queens-based youth and their families.

The 34 recipients who will receive funding are:

• Queens Public Library
  • Service area: Far Rockaway
• Queens Community House
  • Service area: Pomonok Houses, Flushing
• The Child Center of New York
  • Service area: Rockaway Park
• Arverne Church of God, Inc (COGCA)
  • Service area: 101^st Precinct, Far Rockaway and Arverne
• Queens Defenders
  • Service area: Far Rockaway
• Project Lead
  • Service areas: Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens
• Greater Ridgewood Youth Council
  • Service area: 104^th Precinct, Queens North
• Sunnyside Community Services
  • Service area: Woodside
• Queens Community Justice Center
  • Service areas: Jamaica, Cambria Heights, Rosedale, Hollis, Springfield Gardens, Ozone Park
• Catholic Charities
  • Service area: Far Rockaway
• Greater Bethel Community Corporation
  • Service areas: Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village, Addisleigh Park, Springfield Gardens
• Youthful Savings Foundation
  • Service area: NYC DOE, District 29
• Martin de Porres Youth & Family Services
  • Service areas: 103^rd, 105^th & 113^th Precincts
• Garden of Hope
  • Service area: Flushing
• Korean American Family Service Center
  • Service area: Flushing
• 100 Suits for 100 Men
  • Service area: Laurelton
• Commonpoint Queens
  • Service area: Jamaica
• SAYA
  • Service area: Ozone Park
• Rosedale Jets Football Association
  • Service areas: Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Cambria Heights, Jamaica
• 4Ward Inclusion Consulting
  • Service area: Southeast Queens, DOE District 28
• Save the People
  • Service area: Jamaica
• Global Kids
  • Service area: Corona
• Urban Upbound
  • Service areas: Queensbridge, Astoria, Ravenswood and Woodside Houses
• Share for Life
  • Service area: Astoria Houses
• Youth Career Jumpstart Program
  • Service area: Jamaica
• Bangladeshi Humanitarian Aid and Leadership Outreach, Inc
  • Service areas: Jamaica, Briarwood, Hillside
• Rochdale Village Social Services, Inc.
  • Service areas: Rochdale Village, Jamaica, Southeast Queens
• Chabad Rego Park
  • Service areas: Rego Park, Corona, Elmhurst, Woodside, Jackson Heights
• Police Athletic League, Inc.
  • Service areas: Jamaica, Hollis, St. Albans, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens
• Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Inc.
  • Service area: Astoria
• Zone 126
  • Service area: Zip codes 11101, 11102, 11106, Astoria, Long Island City
• Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement
  • Service area: Queensbridge Houses, Northwestern Queens
• Community Mediation Service – Family Enrichment Center
  • Service areas: Elmhurst, Corona, Jackson Heights
• Community Center of the Rockaway Peninsula
  • Service area: Far Rockaway

The program will continue to operate under the general guidance of the Youth Empowerment Unit within the Community Partnerships Division at the Queens District Attorney’s Office. The total funding for the program is anticipated to be $2,750,000 over two years.