Safe Passage Enhancement in Newark, NJ: Newark Community Street Team

The Newark Community Street Team (NCST) Safe Passage Program (SPP) is a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure the safety of students traveling to and from school in Newark’s South and West Wards, where high levels of violence significantly impact academic performance, psychological well-being, and overall safety. Established in 2015, NCST collaborates with local school administrations, the BRICK Education Network (BRICK), local law enforcement, and community-based organizations to implement SPP. The program deploys trained Safe Passage Outreach Workers (OW) along designated routes to provide a visible and supportive presence that deters violence and assists students. OWs are positioned at key entry and exit points of schools, as well as at bus stops, intersections, and shops near schools, to develop relationships with youth and their families, build trust, and maintain communication. By intervening and de-escalating conflicts, OWs help ensure students arrive at school and return home safely.

Additionally, some Safe Passage staff will serve as Parent Liaison Sentinels, focusing on building partnerships with parents during drop-off and pick-up times. Parent Liaisons work collaboratively with parents to better serve the needs of both students and their families and encourage participation in the Public Safety Roundtable. This new SPP initiative addresses interpersonal conflicts outside school premises, particularly during the hours when students travel to and from school, creating a secure environment that encourages regular attendance.

SPP’s primary goals are to enhance safety for students traveling to and from school and strengthen relationships between students, families, and the community. The program aims to achieve a 20% reduction in incidents of violence along designated routes, to foster trust with students and parents, and to increase participation in monthly community engagement events. 

This initiative serves Newark's South and West Wards and partners with the following schools Weequahic High School, University High School, Malcolm X Shabazz High School, George Washington Carver Elementary, Belmont Runyon Elementary, KIPP NCA Charter School, and KIPP Lab School. These schools were selected based on data from the Newark Public Safety Collaborative and feedback from school administrators and community members indicating high levels of violence. By deploying OWs reflective of the community's demographics, SPP ensures culturally responsive and inclusive interventions, improving victim services, justice responses, prevention initiatives, and reentry services. By implementing culturally responsive outreach, NCST aims to advance equity and remove barriers to services for historically underserved and marginalized communities in Newark and is applying for category 1A and 1B priority funding.