ABOUT
The GodSquad

In the early 2000s in East Flatbush, the murder rate ranked highest among the 5 precincts in the city, accounting for 25% of all violence in NYC.  As a result of the high numbers of murders and the lack of community response to these incidents, clergy mobilized to address this urgency and created the 67th Precinct Clergy Council, reputably known as “The GodSquad”. Formally established in 2010 with the full cooperation of the 67th Precinct, the GodSquad has been a valued partner in the fight against gun violence. Guided by the belief that the welfare and safety of our diverse community is our shared responsibility, we adopted a holistic approach to help to lower youth involvement in senseless gun violence and build safer and more peaceful communities.

With over 100 local churches, we operate in and have a history of addressing gun violence in Flatbush, East Flatbush, and neighboring communities. We respond to numerous calls concerning gunshot victims and their families with hospital visits, counseling sessions, prayer vigils, community walks, gun violence forums, and funeral services earning the trust of the community as a credible voice of hope and resolve. Our transformative model of both preventative and crisis response has led us in the organizing of clergy councils across NYC and has trained over 500 faith leaders in Gun Violence Prevention work.  Serving as the first and only clergy group to be a part of the New York Crisis Management System, we are widely recognized by federal and local Elected Officials, Community Leaders, and Universities. 

We offer crime and gun violence prevention programs and training, provide counseling and support to members of the community and offer solutions to problems arising in the 67th Precinct and across the city. The GodSquad established Clergy For Safe Cities (CSC), a national coalition to support clergy-based gun violence prevention initiatives and implement a collective, comprehensive, community initiative to decrease the involvement of young people in crime and gun violence in their city. To date CSC has trained 500 faith leaders on successful clergy-based models and best practices.

The following programs and services were created and structured for a collaborative response by clergy in partnership with community based organizations that can provide free wraparound services to high-risk individuals.

• Bereavement services
• Unsolved murder case follow-up with the NYPD
• Victims Services
• Clergy self-care
• Roll Calls at Precincts
• Residence Shelters Program
• GodSquad Clergy Crisis Response
• Shooting Responses
• Street Engagement – Clergy walks, Occupy the Corners, Block Takeovers
• Prayer Vigils
• Memorial Services
• Emergency Room Crisis Response Team

OUR PROGRAMS

• Flatbush Leadership Academy
• Mothers For Safe Cities
• Single Parents University
• Partners Against the Hate (P.A.T.H) FORWARD
• Clergy For Safe Cities
• NextGen