YAAY ME INC. IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AWARDED $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT FROM EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH MENTORSHIP AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS

Everytown Reinvests In D.C.’S Community-Led Intervention Program Amid DOJ Cuts And As Homicides Decline In Cities Sustaining CVI, Including Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that YAAY ME Inc. will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to sustain its violence intervention and youth development work.

YAAY Me Inc. uses a youth development and mentorship model, providing workshops, public safety initiatives, and reentry support as part of D.C.’s Cure the Streets program. The organization also runs a Safe Passage program to ensure safety for students and families around schools.

“We’re proud to re-invest in YAAY Me Inc. because its youth mentorship and public safety initiatives have proven effective in reducing violence and building resilience in D.C. neighborhoods,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “It’s critical that  trusted organizations like YAAY Me can continue their life-saving work, and grant writers step up to sustain the funding gaps created by federal rollbacks.”

“For young people in D.C., our programs are the difference between being pulled into cycles of violence or finding a pathway to stability,” said Dr. Warees Majeed, COO and Co-Founder, YAAY Me Inc. “This grant comes at a critical moment as federal dollars vanish, ensuring we can continue protecting and mentoring the next generation.”

The announcement comes as the Department of Justice has slashed funding for public safety grants, challenging community organizations to sustain their lifesaving efforts with declining support. At the same time, many cities that have invested in community violence intervention (CVI) are seeing gun homicides decline, including D.C., a powerful testament to the effectiveness of programs like YAAY ME Inc.. Research shows that community-level violence prevention programs can contribute to drops in crime.

Since its launch in 2019, the Everytown Community Safety Fund has invested more than $15.7 million in grants to 142 CVI organizations across 72 U.S. cities, in addition to technical support and capacity building resources. This year, Everytown is awarding $2.67 million in grants nationwide, including renewed support for long-standing partners like the YAAY Me Inc.. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About YAAY Me Inc.

YAAY Me Inc. is a Washington, D.C.–based organization dedicated to youth mentorship, public safety, and violence prevention. Through programs like Cure the Streets and Safe Passage, YAAY Me supports young people, returning citizens, and families with mentoring, advocacy, and wraparound services to interrupt cycles of violence. Learn more at https://www.yaayme.org/.