The Paterson Healing Collective (PHC) is the first Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program in Passaic County. The program was created in partnership with St. Joseph’s hospital to provide support and intervention for survivors of violence.
The Paterson Healing Collective (PHC) is a community- based violence intervention program created by a multi- agency partnership that encompasses St. Joseph’s Hospital, Reimagining Justice and the Health Coalition of Passaic County. It utilizes a community-based violence intervention strategy; operating from the framework that violence is a public health issue. PHC deploys Interventionists to mentor, provide referrals and victim services to those who are survivors of violence in the City of Paterson, NJ. PHC utilizes the strengths and connections of non-traditional, grassroots leaders (credible messengers who may have been justice involved, survivors of violence, former perpetrators of violence and community advocates) as mentors, supporting victims of violence between the ages of 12- 40 years old through a case management model.
The Paterson Healing Collective team consists of case manager/interventionists, victim support specialists, advocates, hospital staff, mental health specialists and academics.
Dr. Chowdhury is a scholar activist and yogi with several years of experience working in the field of community corrections and teaching in higher education. During her career as a Probation Officer, her passion was working with justice involved youth and partnering with local schools to create positive outcomes for the young people she supervised.
Presently, she teaches at Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY) within the Social Science, Human Services and Criminal Justice Department. Prior to her current appointment, she taught at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Rutgers University. She has experience in teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses that include Research Methods, Corrections, Gender Crime and Justice, Gangs and Street Crimes, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Contemporary Issues, Community Resource Management, Advanced Corrections, Race and Crime and Juveniles and Violence. She loves her students and believes that their achievements are her greatest rewards in life. One of her most meaningful experiences in teaching has been teaching students for the NJ STEP program inside correctional facilities. Presently, she advocates for continued opportunities for students inside correctional facilities around the country.
Dr. Chowdhury’s research interests are intersectionality, juvenile justice, gender and crime, mass incarceration, restorative justice, collective efficacy, prison infractions and punishment, racial disparity and the criminal justice system, and trauma focused violence interventions. In 2017, she co-founded a nonprofit entitled Reimagining Justice. Her partners and her provide training, motivational speaking, transformative mentoring, narrative therapy, consultation, resilience circles and support for organizations and community members that are looking to develop innovative solutions for youth in schools and the community. Reimagining Justice has partnered with organizations in Belize, Illinois, Virginia, NJ and NY in the first year of its incorporation. The goal of this organization is to reimagine a justice system that provides love, empathy, equality and opportunities for our communitie
Theodore Martinez, commonly known as Teddie is a campaigner against gun violence and advocate for returning citizens (ex-felons). Born and raised in the city of Paterson, Teddie has worked with communities across the city, state, and country, through organizations like Paterson’s Men Stand UP, Queens Life Camp Inc., Newark ‘s FP Youth OutCry Foundation and Reimagining Justice to eradicate violence.
In 1990, Teddie fell victim to a brutal gun assault where he was shot 11 times. It is that experience that motivates him to keep fighting to end the vicious cycle of violence that’s sweeping across America- not just in Paterson. To raise awareness of the ongoing violence in the city of Paterson, using Life Camps Inc theme ‘’BURY DA BEEF” Teddie collaborated with other community organization, City Officials, Pastors and Community members and organized a series of anti –violence rallies. In 2009, after witnessing a young man get murdered, Teddie co-created Project Change Anti- Violence Movement with Kenyatte Stewart a lawyer from Paterson NJ. Together they hosted anti- violence seminars and speaking engagements in the Paterson Public School system. In 2010, they organized a successful truce among local gang members in the city of Paterson that ended months of violence in the city. In 2012, Teddie Co-founded PROJECT RECONNECT a 501c3 nonprofit organization with his Barbara. In 2013, Teddie and Barbara created a documentary titled ‘’Death by Design” which addressed the cause, affect and cure to violence in the city of Paterson. Though his work with Project Reconnect, he was instrumental in organizing a truce in 2015 with city officials. Teddie also serves as mentor and life coach to men and woman of all ages.
Casey C. Melvin is native to the Great City of Paterson where he has lived, worked and thrivedfor his entire life. He is a business owner, and a passionate advocate. He has beenself-employed for more than twenty-four years. After completing cosmetology training at Wilfred Academy in 1990, Melvin opened the door to his barber shop, Kutt Creators, in 1994. Thebarbershop changed names in 1998 to Simply the Best Barbershop and was at the samelocation for more than twenty-five years.
He is active in community organizations including The Paterson Street Keepers which he co-founded in 2001, and The Men Stand Up Anti-violence Initiative where he served as manager.
Both organizations address violence, provide resources and aim to bring peace in the streets.Other organizations include Team Charity, and BAND Against Neighborhood Destruction. As aparent, he has served as president of the PTO and as president of the Paterson Public SchoolsParent Leadership Alliance. He brings to the Paterson Healing Collective the full benefits of all the positive relationships that he has built over the years with people no matter their job title, level of education, or station in life. A quote that he lives by comes from Marcus Garvey, “I trust that you will so live today as to realize that you are masters of your own destiny, masters of yourfate; if there is anything you want in this world, it is for you to strike out with confidence and faith in self and reach for it.”
Luis Gonzalez is a native of the Dominican Republic but has been living in Paterson , NJ for the last 25 years. His previous encounters with the law made him an advocate for gun violence in the city. He strives for change and takes pride on being a leader and a mentor to the youth in his community. Luis is an example that people can change no matter of the label’s society gives you.
When your kin to something, the message you bring adds a valuable, and often rare, perspective. Born and raised in the North Main area of Paterson, NJ, I’m all too familiar with the becoming a product of your environment; having the ambition to become more than what was surrounding me but not always having the proper mindset to see life’s longevity versus the day to day decisions that had to be made as a means of survival.
Because of my criminal history and lifelong ties to North Main, I’m able to have real conversations with citizens in the community about what we’ve endured. I’m also able to be an example, to show them that there’s life beyond North Main and the energy applied towards criminal activity, it can be applied to saving our youth, starting a legitimate business, and changing what outsiders say/think about Paterson, NJ. Ultimately, my desire is to do my part in ensuring the safety of my children, family members and my community by using my connections, voice, and experiences to help clean up Paterson’s violence ridden neighborhoods and leading by the example as proof that the opportunity to live an honorable life free of crime, it’s available to all of us.
My inspirational quote is “Believe In Yourself”. I know its it’s an popular phrase, but this quote applies to my life on a personal level. I always thought my past and my struggles defined me, now those same challenges helped changed me.
No matter what walks of life we come from there is always a better way.
Jaclyn Marcella attained her New Jersey State Social Work License in 2011 after graduating with her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University. Jaclyn’s experiences have encompassed a broad spectrum of clinical and community outreach practices.She spent seven years working in the New Jersey Children’s System of Care (CSOC), serving youth with behavioral/emotional health challenges and special needs and their families throughout Passaic County.
Melanie Holmes, a native of South Carolina, is proud resident of Passaic County, New Jersey. As founder and CEO of FLY Women’s Network, she upholds her organization’s mission of reducing the recidivism rate of women reentering society. By providing housing and other needs, Melanie maintains that those who have served time can be meaningfully reunited with their families via comprehensive services and collaborative initiatives.
Cristina Barnes-Lee was born and raised in Paterson, NJ. She attained her New Jersey State License in Social Work after graduating with her master’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2016. Cristina has focused her studies on trauma and its effects on the person and the community. She practices from a trauma focused lens and understands the importance of mental health and it’s effects on the individual, family and community at large.
Barbara has been a part of the anti-violence movement since 2001, and currently works with Reimagining Justice as Data/Grant manager for the Paterson, NJ Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP). As single mother, helping two sons grow into maturity and two daughters become women, Barbara witnessed the growing gang violence in the city of Paterson and was determined to make a difference, starting with her children.
Rahshon Dixon currently serves as the Parks Department Supervisor for the Department of Public Works in the City of Paterson. A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Mr. Dixon is a concerned community member who has devoted his time to violence prevention and advocacy in the city. He is also a member of several grass roots organizations in the City of Paterson such as The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. of Paterson Inc., The POWER Coalition and The Village.
LaQuan Hargrove currently serves as the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Coordinator & Case Expeditor for Passaic County’s Department of Human Services. A native of Newark, New Jersey, Mr. Hargrove is a concerned community member who has devoted his career to advocating for children and families who have come into contact with the Juvenile Justice System.
Intervention Workers provide mentoring to youth and young adults ages 12-40 with achieving short term life goals.
Our interventionists respond to community based violence incidents based on information from the community. HRI connects those engaged in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment, mediation, referrals and resource information in order to restore peace and avoid arrest and incarceration.
Our interventionists respond to community based violence incidents based on information from the community. HRI connects those engaged in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment, mediation, referrals and resource information in order to restore peace and avoid arrest and incarceration.
Support Groups allow survivors of violence and the greater community to receive support from their peers. The group is facilitated by a Mental Health Specialist and case manager/ interventionists. SSG is a safe space where survivors find the freedom to share their experiences and begin their healing process.
Each week, Paterson Healing Collective Intervention Workers perform community intervention walks in Hotspots to bring information about resources and services to the residents. Community Walks are also used to identify new mentees and to hear directly from residents about their needs.
The Paterson Healing Collective Violence Intervention Round Table is a community forum created to engage our community in looking at violence as a public health problem. This facilitated community dialogue seeks to partner with community members, activists, justice involved individuals, elected officials, service providers and faith-based organizations to come together and problem solve community-based issues. Through these dialogues, our hope is that we can come up with transformative and restorative solutions to violence.
Intervention Workers provide mentoring to youth and young adults ages 12-30 with achieving short term life goals.
Our interventionists respond to community based violence incidents based on intelligence from the community. HRI connect those engaged in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment, mediation, referrals and resource information in order to restore peace and avoid arrest and incarceration.
Our interventionists respond to community based violence incidents based on
information from the community. HRI connects those engaged in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment, mediation, referrals and resource information in order to restore peace and avoid arrest and incarceration.
Support Groups allow survivors of violence and the greater community to receive support from their peers. The group is facilitated by a Mental Health Specialist and case manager/ interventionists. SSG is a safe space where survivors find the freedom to share their experiences and begin their healing process
Each week, Paterson Healing Collective Intervention Workers perform community
intervention walks in Hotspots to bring information about resources and services to the residents. Community Walks are also used to identify new mentees and to hear directly from residents about their needs.
The Paterson Healing Collective Violence Intervention Round Table is a community forum created to engage our community in looking at violence as a public health problem. This facilitated community dialogue seeks to partner with community members, activists, justice involved individuals, elected officials, service providers and faith-based organizations to come together and problem solve community-based issues. Through these dialogues, our hope is that we can come up with transformative and restorative solutions to violence.
Reimagining Justice is a 501 (c)(3) organization that advocates for creating healing centered justice responses, shifting to transformative justice paradigms for communities that are most impacted by structural violence, justice reinvestment in communities to create safe havens for youth, educational support for the socio-emotional needs of children and culturally appropriate mental health programs.
Note: Paterson Healing Collective HVIP Employees are employed under the umbrella Reimagining Justice Inc. (Company)
Trauma Definition:
Internalizing
Externalizing
On April 22, 2017 at 8:00pm, Steve Coleman and Five Elements will perform in a free concert at the Coolidge Auditorium – Thomas Jefferson Building 10 First Street SE, Washington, DC. Steve will perform a new work commissioned by the Library of Congress.