The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) implements a centralized strategy of violence reduction programs, led by OVP Director Zequa Tookes.

The mission of this Office is to coordinate and foster better internal and external partnerships to advance violence prevention. In addition to staffing City initiatives, we also collaborate with community-based organizations and agencies working to end violent crime.

Key programs under OVP include:

• Pathways to Peace: A street-level team that provides support and nonviolent alternatives for youth involved in gangs, drugs, or violent disputes. They are trained to defuse potentially violent situations and guide young people toward better life choices. 
• Office of Neighborhood Safety: This office implements community-based intervention and prevention strategies to combat and eliminate violence in Rochester. It coordinates the development of a city-wide Violence Reduction Strategy, guiding public and private investments in social programs. 
• Rochester Peace Collective: A collaborative effort that directs investments from local funding organizations into proven programs working to prevent violent crimes. The collective supports trauma-informed, social-emotional health programming, re-entry services, job training, conflict resolution, youth development, mental health support, and the arts. 
• Advance Peace – Peacemaker Fellowship: An urban gun violence disruption strategy that invests in the development, health, and well-being of young people at the center of the violence crisis. Neighborhood Change Agents provide opportunities to mentees, known as City Fellows, to break the cycle of gun violence.

Through these programs, OVP collaborates with community-based organizations and agencies to advance violence prevention and create a safer environment for all Rochester residents.