South Baltimore Peacemaking Pilot Project

Roca is requesting $400,000 over two years in support to pilot Roca Baltimore is proposing the South Baltimore Peacemaking Project (SBPP) in partnership with BPD and Sagamore Development. Through a combination of violence intervention work with high-risk young people and systems change work with our criminal justice partners, this project will substantially improve public safety and create an onramp to employment for the community’s highest risk young men, who are experiencing increased levels of violence, trauma, and unemployment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roca Baltimore will expand our after shooting protocol, which we have successfully piloted in the Eastern District of Baltimore. This protocol includes a daily review of the homicide and non-fatal shooting list from the Baltimore Police Department and the state; communication with appropriate Majors, DJS and P&P; communication with Johns Hopkins Hospital Team; communication with Safe Streets when appropriate;  a door knock with an offer of assistance to the young person and/or his family; enrollment in Roca Baltimore or referral to other program depending on risk level; follow-up with assistance; and documentation of all efforts, contacts and follow-up.

In addition to making 24–48-hour door knocks for any non-fatal shooting victim in the district, and any follow-up related to a homicide, we will engage with any young men 16-to-24 years old who may be of concern to the BPD Southern District as well as any individuals who are being released from detention and living in the district. 

Through this work, Roca will identify and intensively serve 35-50 young men in Roca’s Intervention Model and will engage at least 30 of these young people in transitional employment and support them as they work towards unsubsidized employment. 

To support our systemic change goals, Roca will train police and community partners on trauma, brain science and two methodologies for healing and communication—CBT and Peacemaking Circles. Roca will also build police and community partnerships and implement a Hub that will coordinate our community partners and provide our families at the most elevated levels of risk with the support they need (both in services and resources) to make and sustain real change, supporting a minimum of 100 families each year.  Additionally, Roca will offer training in CBT, Peacemaking Circles and the development of a Public Safety planning group with the Command Staff and officers at the Baltimore Police Department Southern District and community partners like Sagamore.