Arising from a two-day summit which took place last month, sponsored by the Brooklyn Center for Quality Life (BCQL) in conjunction with the Brooklyn’s District Attorney’s Office, a follow-up meeting was held to strengthen and build partnership in addressing youth violence, gang and crime prevention, and mental health. Advocates converged Aug. 6 at the Ebenezer Urban Ministry Center in Brownsville to move forward with some concrete plans to ensure public resources become accessible to businesses willing to establish their work to strengthen public safety for the communities and for young people involved in criminal activities to become aware of these resources. The group of participants, which included clergy leaders, members of the NYPD, educators, non-profit executives, mental health professionals, and concerned community advocates, all listened to Brooklyn’s District Attorney Eric Gonzalez as he explained that resources are available to help make public safety better in Brooklyn, However, he said, demolishing gang violence, and other criminal activities need restorative justice and conflict resolution. “The justice system should not be a perpetual lifetime punishment for the criminals,” he expressed. In explaining further, the Brooklyn district attorney said some programs are underutilized. “Brooklyn gets the resources, but there is an information gap,” Gonzalez stated. Presenting a further argument, he noted that the people who are disconnected from resources need to find the people who are connected to the resources and work with them. The clergy leaders are crucial for this restoration, he emphasized. “It has a big voice for solution and resources. I will bridge with the community, I am willing to partners with other leaders and officials to help,” he declared. The district attorney added that it should be restoration with justice, establishing a bridge with the community. “The community’s involvement intensify the good of our programs,” the D.A. added. The D.A. further added that the young men are hurting. “The restoration was created to help," he said. "We took young men who were rivals and make them friends.” Participants' understanding that the objective of the meeting was to avoid working as an isolationist were reminded by Bishop Gilford Monrose, facilitator and organizer of the meeting, that the work is to collaborate the efforts of each organization and connect the young people to the businesses with the resources “where all participants support each other’s effort." "Find organizations that are connected to the young people,” Bishop Monrose suggested. Bishop Monrose elaborated on the need to establish business relationships to enhance the work and develop programs. “Some leaders are expressing their frustration for lack of support and resources,” the Bishop hinted, informing the group, “We hold these meetings for leaders to collaborate,…some things go unanswered; we would like the victims to be supported." Aaron Williams, a community trailblazer in the Brownsville area, said he has tried to pass on information first-hand to community residents about the available resources in various organizations, but the information needs collaborated and to be pushed, stating his voice is not enough.