Project Restore originated from a policy proposal in the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council program at Columbia University and was developed in collaboration with Columbia’s Center for Justice, the King’s County District Attorney (KCDA), The New York City, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), Inside Circle and Bridgestreet Development Corporation. Project Restore was piloted through Columbia University’s Center for Justice, demonstrating a new public safety philosophy through a targeted street violence intervention model.

With an initial $2.5 million seed funding commitment from MOCJ, Project Restore commenced in January 2023 as a 12-month gang intervention demonstration pilot program. It focused on assisting 30 rival street-affiliated young men from Brooklyn housing departments involved in long-standing gun violence conflict. The program offered a holistic approach, including case management, life skills training, credible mentorship, trauma healing circles, educational and employment pathways.

A personalized and empowering approach to support each intern's unique journey. The case management team, composed of mentors, case managers, and social workers, collaborates with participants to craft a customized action plan that not only addresses their individual needs, aspirations, and life circumstances but also builds on their inherent strengths and resilience.

Acting as both guides and confidants, mentors share their own lived experiences of overcoming similar challenges as participants to offer support and understanding. With a foundation in trauma-informed care, they aim to inspire and encourage participants, emphasizing their potential for personal growth, healing, and positive change.

Specializing in navigating the complex psychological and social challenges that can accompany traumatic experiences, social workers offer emotional support, counseling, and family mediation. They employ a strength-based approach to help participants identify and leverage their personal capabilities to tackle external challenges, including legal complexities or housing instabilities, fostering resilience and autonomy.

Project Restore participants attend weekly 2-hour long life skills building sessions over a 6-month period during the program that equipped interns with practical skills. The sessions are structured using the Justice Ambassadors Curriculum: lesson plans, slides, study materials, etc. Life skills training encompasses a broad range of skills and competencies that are essential for individuals to thrive personally, socially, and professionally.

Project Restore facilitates internship site placements for participants who demonstrate ability – after attending life skills training and programming consistently – to thrive in the workforce. By providing them with real-world experience and the chance to apply their newly acquired life skills. These placements are selected to align with participant's interests and career aspirations, serving as a stepping stone to meaningful employment or further educational milestones.

A foundational element of the trauma-informed approach, these circles offer a safe space for healing, sharing, and accountability. Participants engage in weekly 2-4 hour long guided discussions that encourage emotional expression, mutual support, and the resolution of conflicts through empathy and understanding. Therapeutic Healing Circles, often associated with Restorative Justice practices, play several crucial roles. These circles provide a structured space for dialogue among participants affected by harm or conflict.

Activating communal areas with events – drives, giveaways, forums, town halls, – in ways that promote safety, wellness, and belonging among participants and the broader community. Other social gatherings included public art projects and inclusive recreational opportunities that encourage participants to become community change-makers. By transforming public spaces into vibrant community hubs, placemaking fosters a sense of pride, ownership, and connection among residents, thereby contributing to the reduction of violence and the enhancement of community cohesion.