Community Empowerment Program

CONNECT recognizes the vital role of community involvement in preventing and ending interpersonal violence. As part of its comprehensive approach to eliminating family violence, CONNECT established the Community Empowerment Program (CEP) to help local organizations across New York City respond to the needs of victims and survivors in their own communities. CONNECT has engaged almost 200 community partners in their efforts to eliminate interpersonal violence.
CONNECT Men
CONNECT’s work with men serves dual purposes, to begin with, as a strategy to keep women and children safe by doing prevention and intervention work with abusive men, bystanders and male youth.
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CONNECT Women
CONNECT Women offers education, support, and space for women to gather, share experiences, and think critically about what it means to live in a culture where violence against women is the norm.
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CONNECT Faith
CONNECT Faith is committed to working in collaboration with New York City’s diverse faith communities to create and strengthen their response to gender and family violence.
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CONNECT Youth
CONNECT Youth consists of two groups: Girls Empowerment – safe spaces for young victims of abuse; and Transitioning into Men – challenging attitudes, beliefs and behavior towards women and girls.
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CEP was one of the first programs of its kind in the United States to develop programs rooted in the community that enhance existing social infrastructures. CEP trains community-based organizations, faith-based groups and social service agencies throughout New York City in education and outreach, capacity-building and project assessment techniques.
Education and Outreach Programs
  • Seminars and workshops on the social, legal, cultural and health aspects of interpersonal violence
  • Staff training
  • Events and forums for local residents to promote awareness of interpersonal violence in their communities
Capacity building programs
  • Program design and development
  • Technical assistance
  • Resource enhancement
CONNECT Women
CONNECT Men
CONNECT Faith
CONNECT Youth