A community organization is putting more people on the ground to help community members feel safe and prevent future violence following a shooting in East Flatbush on Monday.
An overnight
shooting in the Flatbush Gardens Apartment complex Monday sent a 17-year-old boy to the hospital, who police say is now in stable condition.
However, the Elite Learners, a community organization, is putting its energy and resources into the community to help public safety.
"What that includes is us often canvasing high risk areas within our communities, and it allows us to build relationships on the ground in order to be able to mediate conflicts and alleviate acts of gun violence," said Camara Jackson, founder and CEO of Elite Learners.
"If they feel unsafe, they can come to us if they don't want to go straight to the police," said Raymond Pitts, an outreach worker and violence interrupter with the organization.
Jackson acknowledges violence can increase during the summer months and says the organization offers free programming and resources for all people, including youth to help tackle preventable violence.
Jackson is also calling on the city for more funding and collaboration between local and city agencies to come up with a public safety plan ahead of the warmer months.
To learn more about the organization and available resources visit its
website.