NYT writes a story on SOS Crown Heights

above NYT article wrote: Achisimach Yisrael, 35, of S.O.S. recalled that after a 14-year-old was killed this summer in Crown Heights, more than 100 of the teenager’s friends gathered at his wake.

“Seeing him laying there — that was real life for them,” Mr. Yisrael said, adding that a large group then left the church to confront those who they believed were responsible for the teenager’s death.

“Every last one of them had every intention of retaliating and basically creating a bloodbath,” he said.

From their storefront office on Kingston Avenue, S.O.S. workers saw the throng marching by. After quickly determining where the group was going, several workers were dispatched to the intended target; another squad headed to a nearby park, where a worker persuaded the dead teenager’s friends to congregate.

With a large, volatile crowd gathered around them, four workers undertook what was perhaps their most tense, most expansive mediation to date, said Lavon Walker, who works for S.O.S: They told the group that they needed to respect the dead teenager’s mother and family; that killing someone else would not bring their friend back.

“Then we called out and said, ‘Is there anybody in the crowd who is a father?’ ” Mr. Yisrael recalled. “Do you want to remove yourself from your children?”

In the end, the crowd returned to the wake, Mr. Walker said. This was one of the 54 conflicts the group has interrupted since early last year, when the program began, said Amy Ellenbogen, S.O.S.’s director.

Brooklynian discussed the murder that led up to this mediation here:

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/shooting-at-park-and-troy

Yes, SOS Crown Heights is based on the Ceasefire model.

....staff members met the founder of Ceasefire at the NYC premier of the Interupters last Friday.

On CNN today:

http://cnnradio.cnn.com/2013/01/07/confronting-criminals-slows-murders-in-nyc/

April 29, 2013: 62 days.

May 8: 70

They have a particular catchment area.

The square formed by Kingston Ave

Atlantic Avenue

Utica

Eastern Parkway.

...any non-suicide shooting in that square in which there is an injury or death resets the clock.

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