MAYOR BARAKA TO UNVEIL OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TRAUMA RECOVERY STRATEGIC PLAN

AS PART OF NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, AT 11 A.M. IN CITY HALL PRESS ROOM

OVPTR works to break generational cycles that leads to violence and trauma;

groundbreaking plan has four goals

Newark, NJ –April 24, 2023 – Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery Lakeesha Eure, and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight will hold a press conference on Wednesday, April 26, at 11 a.m., to launch the City of Newark’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery’s (OVPTR) Strategic Plan, in the City Hall Press Room. City Hall is located at 920 Broad Street.

The strategic plan is being unveiled as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights week, which is dedicated to confronting and removing barriers to justice for crime victims. The press conference will spotlight Newark’s OVPTR as a national model for pioneering deliberative solutions and policies to support the victims of crime and violence, to assist their recovery, and prevent such incidents from occurring. Its holistic and comprehensive approach to crime and violence treats it as a public health issue, viewing people as individuals and not as products of their environment.

The groundbreaking plan has four strategic goals, which will be discussed at the press conference.

OVPTR was created by Mayor Baraka in June 2020. The mayor made the announcement on the steps of Newark’s Police Division’s 1^st Precinct, which was the 4^th Precinct in 1967, where the historic rebellion began.

The Office’s multi-faceted mission provides services to address trauma-related issues and promote prevention strategies to enhance the quality of life for all Newark residents. The office works hand in hand with public safety agencies and community partners to address the underlying causes of violence and build trust between those agencies and the community.

WHO:            Mayor Ras J. Baraka

Director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery Lakeesha Eure

Assemblywoman Shanique Speight

Brick City Peace Collective Executive Director Kyleesha Wingfield-Hill

Newark resident Sonia Rogers, who lost three sons to gun violence

WHAT:          Will launch the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery’s Strategic Plan as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights week.

WHEN:          Wednesday, April 26

                        11 a.m.

WHERE:       City Hall Press Room

                        Newark