Mayor Adams launches $15M workforce program to curb violence

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled the Community Resources for Employment and Development (CRED) initiative, a groundbreaking $15 million workforce program aimed at providing job training and support services to justice-involved individuals and those at risk of community violence.

Announced as part of the city’s “Jobs Week” campaign, the program will serve 1,500 participants aged 18 to 40 over Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026, offering up to 24 weeks of paid training and job placement in high-demand sectors.

Mayor Adams emphasized the program’s role in preventing crime by creating economic opportunities for vulnerable communities. “The best deterrent to crime and keeping communities safe is simple: a good-paying job. CRED is that deterrent, investing in communities most impacted by gun violence and providing the holistic support needed to help justice-impacted New Yorkers enter the workforce,” he stated. “All New Yorkers — no matter their past — should be able to receive the training and resources they need to secure a job. Our ‘Jobs Week’ is highlighting that a job is more than just a way to earn a living — it provides purpose, a sense of pride, and the means to keep people on the right path.”

Overseen by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), the CRED initiative will connect participants with work readiness training, occupational skills development, and internships in industrial and infrastructure, service, media and entertainment, health care, technology, and education/nonprofit sectors. Participants will earn $20 per hour for up to 600 hours of paid training, with the city committed to placing them in permanent jobs within three months after program completion.

DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard highlighted the significance of this initiative in ensuring public safety and economic stability. “Public safety and ensuring New York is the best place to raise a family are top priorities of Mayor Adams, and programs like CRED—offering a variety of paid trainings, internships, and opportunity for full-time employment—are doing just that.”

Beyond employment training, CRED provides mental health counseling, housing assistance, academic support, and health care access, offering a comprehensive approach to reintegration. The program builds upon Mayor Adams’ broader job creation efforts, which have led to a record-breaking number of jobs in the city and a significant reduction in Black and Latino unemployment since his administration began.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. commended the initiative for its proactive approach to public safety, stating, “The CRED initiative is a great way to steer people away from violence and crime and into productive employment. This initiative uses a holistic approach that understands that we cannot incarcerate our way out of all our problems. It will help create a workforce that is better prepared for the modern economy and that will help spur economic prosperity that will benefit our entire city.”

State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the proven impact of vocational training on reducing recidivism. “Vocational training is one of the most powerful public safety tools in our arsenal, reducing recidivism by 43%, and the CRED initiative is harnessing the power of this upstream solution. This $15 million program will uplift 500 at-risk New Yorkers, providing them job training with wraparound support for their health, wellbeing, education, and housing.”

Council Member Yusef Salaam, a former justice-involved individual himself, stressed the importance of breaking cycles of economic hardship. “Too often, justice-involved New Yorkers face barriers to opportunities that prevent them from rebuilding their lives. The CRED initiative is a crucial investment in breaking that cycle by providing the tools, training, and support necessary for meaningful career pathways. In Harlem and across this city, we know that public safety and economic stability go hand in hand.”

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez also praised the initiative for its potential to improve reintegration efforts. **“Hundreds of our neighbors return each year to our communities after being incarcerated, and