Buffalo Peacemakers: Who We Are
Youth Violence and Gang Intervention Program
We reduce the risk of shootings and save lives.
Our Street Engagement Team works late in high-risk neighborhoods, connecting with youth who are involved in gangs or crime. They help settle conflicts peacefully, guide youth towards positive paths, and offer mentorship. In our first six months we met hundreds of youth and created mentoring relationships with 62. We brought many of those into our youth mentorship program, including four who had been stealing cars.
We mentor at-risk youth and help them find their way.
We run Buffalo HEAT, a group for 50 at-risk youth focused on Health, Empowerment, Attitude and Teamwork. This group meets every school day from 4:30-7:30pm. Normal meetings include an hour-long restorative circle where youth talk over important things like learning how to resolve their conflicts with family members, how to succeed in school without being suspended, how to deal with feeling lonely, or how to be a good friend. There is also a healthy, generous snack and an hour of fun exercise. Special meetings bring in speakers or carry out community service. HEAT also meets throughout the summer with longer hours. HEAT began in 2022 as a summer program but has grown by leaps and bounds at the request of the youth!
We understand the pain of trauma.
Our mentors have “street credibility” with our youth because almost come from backgrounds where they were gang-involved or experienced trauma. Many spent time in jail or prison. At some point, however, they turned their lives around and now support young people facing similar struggles. Our mentors have worked on their own experience of trauma. Now they train in trauma informed care, restorative practices, and nonviolent conflict resolution to guide youth with empathy and support.
We comfort victims of violence and get them back on their feet.
When violence occurs, we move fast to prevent retaliation and comfort victims. For example, during the tragic 2022 mass murder at the TOPS supermarket we literally helped shoppers escape out the back door. As soon as the shooting stopped, we started comforting those who lost loved ones. Then every day until the store reopened, we set up across the street. We listened to stories, gave away free food and supplies, and helped those in need figure out what to do. At another time, a single mom was killed leaving behind four children. We helped her sister take custody of the kids, listened to her grief and fears, helped her purchase a van so she could transport her now 6 children, helped her resettle in a safer and larger place away from the shooting.
We keep school children safe before and after school.
Every school day thousands of youth from different neighborhoods, schools, and gang territories mix with each other as they travel to and from school. To help things stay safe, we run a Safe Passage Program at ten High Schools, five stations on the Metro, and the Central Library. Our mentors connect to each other and to the Buffalo Police by radio. We deter fights and help youth resolve conflicts. If a fight does break out, we step in to prevent harm and keep students out of trouble. Students tell us how happy and relieved they are to see the Peacemakers.
We create a peaceful atmosphere at community gatherings.
The Peacemakers started after shots were fired due to a gang dispute at the Juneteenth Festival in 2008. Then Police Lt. Steve Nichols called Pastor Giles to help organize volunteers to help keep the 2009 event safe. Since then, we’ve been called to assist in creating a peaceful environment at many events — from high school basketball games, to Chippewa Street on Thanksgiving Eve, to highly charged public demonstrations. Now we help make about 100 events safer each year.
We create a safer Buffalo and Western New York.
Beyond our programs, we work to bring the community together by encouraging trust and cooperation between residents, local police, and helping organizations. We also help create safer environments around local businesses and at places like the Galleria Mall.
We embody God’s love.
The heart of our work is love. Every Peacemaker sees others as valuable. Almost all are believers who see each person as a child of God. Unfortunately, most at-risk youth we work with don’t feel good about themselves. They don’t feel valued or listened to by the world. They don’t expect that when they become an adult there will be a good place waiting for them where they can earn a living and make a positive contribution. Some don’t think they will live to be 25 years old. But we treat our youth with respect. We listen to them. And we help them believe they will succeed in life. They know that at least one centered adult believes in them and is there for them. And that makes all the difference!
We can’t do it without you.
While we are very grateful for the funding we receive through grants and contracts, we also rely on donations to support our work. Your contributions help us cover expenses like replacing an old van that has reached the end of its days or providing food for the many people we meet who are in need. Your gifts also ensure we have the resources to manage and improve our services.
