2022 ANNUAL REPORT

OUR MISSION
The Healing and Justice Center is a community-based public safety
program working to:
1. Reduce gun violence and other forms of violence
2. Improve health outcomes and
3. Divert people from the criminal legal system so we can end mass
incarceration

The Healing and Justice Center is a partnership between Dream Defenders,

the Circle of Brotherhood, Dade County Street Response and Touching
Miami with Love. We are a coalition of community members, violence
survivors, artists, healers, healthcare providers and legal professionals who
are working together to build a comprehensive strategy and continuum of
services that will end gun violence and mass incarceration in Miami Dade
and keep our communities safe.

In Miami, 52% of murder victims are Black. In response, our neighborhoods

are flooded with police. Meanwhile, we are starved of the resources actually
needed to address trauma, help people heal and keep people safe -
housing, jobs, after school programming, mental health and healthcare.
Our communities are caught in a trap - poverty, violence and
incarceration. We are working to break this trap.
Community,

Ten years ago, Dream Defenders was founded after the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin when
young Black and Brown people came together to plan a march to the Sanford Police
Department and demand the arrest of George Zimmerman. For the last decade, we have used
action, culture and the media to call for an end to the violence, criminalization and
incarceration experienced by Black and immigrant youth and our families.

In 2015, after we conducted a statewide listening project to understand the needs and
perspectives of communities across Florida, we realized it was not enough for us to call for an
end to systems – we needed to actively build the new. We needed to be clear about what we
were fighting for, not just what were were fighting against. What did our communities need to
address and heal from decades of violence, poverty and criminalization?

In 2019, with a generous seed grant from the Open Society Foundation, we began to bring
together organizations to envision this, all of whom had years of experience working to keep our
communities safe. Together, we would establish what has become the Healing and Justice
Center, a hub for service delivery, deep community outreach and organizing focused on
bringing our communities together to heal and end gun violence. In 2021, we had the
opportunity to visit the Newark Community Street Team, whose model for community-based
public safety has led to historic lows in gun violence, theft and police shootings across the city of
Newark. As a result of our trip, Miami was one of 16 cities selected to participate in the White
House’s Community Violence Initiative.

We are up against many challenges. Decades of government disinvestment and over-policing,

have left our communities devastated with extreme levels of poverty, depression, violence and
incarceration. Nearly half of Miami Dade County’s budget – $2B - goes towards police and
prisons. Meanwhile, our communities are starved of the basic resources needed to keep our
people safe – housing, mental health programs, after school programming, jobs and public
transportation.

We are tired of racist media narratives that say poverty, violence and incarceration are
inevitable, permanent fixtures of our society and Black culture. Our communities are full of
people deep with love for our neighborhoods and ripe with knowledge needed to end the cycle of
violence. The Healing and Justice Center is the result of resourcing people within communities to
bring forth solutions to the challenges we face. It is the result of coming together across silos to
do something that would be impossible to do alone.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our work. We keep us safe.

Rachel Gilmer, Armen Henderson

Director, Healing and Justice Center Medical Director, Healing and Justice Center
Co-Director, The Dream Defenders Director, Dade County Street Response

Brother Lyle Muhammad, Trina Harris

Executive Director, Circle of Brotherhood Executive Director, Touching Miami With Love
 We are a coalition of
violence survivors,
artists,
healers,
Youth workers,
healthcare providers
and Community organizers
working to end gun violence
and keep our community Safe.

Contact us 7 days/week at
1.866.SAFE.MIA
STEERING COMMITTEE
OUR TEAM
Dr. Armen Henderson
Medical Director
Rachel Gilmer Dr. Armen henderson Bro. Lyle Muhammad Trina Harris
HJC Director HJC Medical Director v Director, Circle of Director, Touching
Co-Director, Dream CEO, Dade county Brotherhood Miami With LOve
Defenders Street Response

Lesley Jackson
Mobile Crisis
Vivian AzaliaCoordinator Lesley Jackson, mSW Cindy Mahendar Shareefah Robinson, MS MFT
HJC YOUTH PROGRAMS HJC FREEDOM HOUSE Transformative chief program officer, touching
DIRECTOR Mobile Crisis Coordinator justice coordinator Miami with love
STAFF

Tarrah hield Kyle hart Amal rogers Michael ingram

Trauma recovery Youth wellness coach Healing ARTS educator Data director
center clinician

Alain Rimpel Ernest hardy Darrell gaitor Shameka Pierce

Peacemaker peacemaker peacemaker peacemaker
OUR2022
TEAMAt a glance
• Launched 1.866.SAFE.MIA hotline, which serves as a one-stop-shop for
community members to sign up for our services and dispatches our mobile
crisis unit
• Launched free urgent care clinic (open 3 days/week) and launched pilot
program for our Freedom House Mobile Crisis Program (currently operating 2
days/week with plans to expand coverage in 2023)
• Awarded $2M from the White House Community Violence Intervention
Program

• Held 20 community walks and wellness checks to check-in on communities in

the aftermath of shootings and other instances of violence
• Trained 150 community members to respond and treat gunshot wounds
through our Stop the Bleed program

• Provided counseling services to 145 people, totaling over 3,256 counseling and
case management hours
• Held programming for over 150 youth, designed to support them in
processing trauma and developing strong social-emotional skills so they can
build healthy relationships with themselves and others
• De-escalated 9 conflicts that could have ended in someone being killed or
incarcerated

• Distributed 100 thanksgiving meals

• Developed a network of 15 healers and artists who use traditional healing

practices to work with our youth and families

• Established apricot case management and data collection system

YOU Can't HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT THE PUBLIC

PROGRAMS AND
INTIATIVES
Freedom house
mobile crisis unit
Responding to mental health crises without the police
The Freedom House Mobile Crisis Unit responds to mental health, substance abuse and
homeless-related crises. Our team consists of two specialists with complementary mental
health and medical training and is dispatched through our 1-866-SAFEMIA hotline. The
mental health team member is an experienced crisis counselor skilled in de-escalation
techniques, supported by a medical professional who is trained as either an EMT or a nurse.
For example, if an individual is feeling suicidal and has cut themselves, the situation is both
medical and psychiatric. These patients are usually seeking help, and the FHMCU model is
designed to address both the emotional, physical, and social well-being of the patient while
alleviating the need for police and EMS involvement. As needed, the team can transport
patients to facilities such as a crisis center, detox center, medical clinic or shelter.

The power of our model lies in its reliance on community relationships and the ability of the
mobile crisis team to meet a variety of needs through a trauma-informed, culturally-
competent approach. These are needs that police officers are often expected to respond to,
but are not trained to handle, which puts an undue burden on the police officer and
communities. We lead with the principle that police should not be involved when responding
to a crisis unless asked by mental health responders as a last resort. We believe that directly-
impacted people are the ones with the wisdom and relationships to address the crises in our
community. We believe in giving residents the tools and resources needed to respond, instead
of a top-down punitive policing approach.

Our Services include:

• Wellness checks • Long-term community-based mental
• Crisis Counseling health services + recovery supports
• Suicide Prevention, Assessment, Intervention specific to individual client needs
• Grief and Loss • Transportation for individuals in need to
• Substance Abuse appropriate care facilities, such as
• First Aid + Non-Emergency Medical Care shelters, mental health crisis units,
medical clinics, hospitals, etc.
• Resource Connection + Referrals
OUR REACH
Currently, we operate 2/days a week within a 5-mile radius of
Liberty City. By the end of 2022, we will expand our coverage
area and service hours with the eventual goal of scaling county
wide

136 6,750
Calls to date operating Anticipated calls/year with
10 hrs/week since April 24/7 coverage

NATURE OF CALLS

OUR IMPACT
We have responded to calls where we have de-escalated and
provided intervention for:
• Clients who present with suicidal and homicidal ideations and
gestures. FHMCU team provided safety planning and
intervention.
• Clients who have witnessed violent events such as shootings
in their neighborhood and are traumatized by the event.
• Clients who feel hopeless and grief-stricken. Interventions by
the team have left clients feeling hopeful and with a plan
towards recovery and wellness.
• Clients who requested welfare checks were provided medical
and mental health assessments.
TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER
Helping survivors of violence heal so we can stop the cycle of violence

mobile crisis unit

Our Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) is based on the nationally acclaimed model designed to
help survivors of violence overcome barriers to accessing mental health treatment, health
care, and legal resources in the acute aftermath of trauma. Our TRC provides free mental
health services and case management to survivors of violence 14 and older, including
survivors of physical assault, sexual assault, gunshot wounds, stabbings, domestic violence,
and human trafficking.

15 people 131 people 3,256 hours

Received in-person therapy and Received online therapy through Of therapy provided
case Management with our TRC Our partnership with Betterhelp.com In person and online
Clinicians

“Thank you for making this
happen! I can't afford therapy
and lost my insurance this
year. I had an extremely low
period and got the email to sign
up at the perfect time. I was
matched with a counselor who I
really like and see myself
using for a long time.”
TESTIMONY
“I really appreciate this resource and am excited that dream defenders
is bringing it to our whole community.”
“I would like to thank you guys so much for offering this opportunity. ..I've
experienced a lot of trauma…. And for me, it was getting to a point where I
was ready to give up…. this came in perfect timing. This opportunity has
impacted [me] more than you will ever know and I am so grateful. ,,,what
you're doing is amazing and important. Especially for the black community.
I wish I could put more of what I’m feeling into words. thank you so much.”
 TRC CASE STUDY
The following is a real-life example of a client we served, outlining how they were impacted, the
services we provided and the outcome for the client.

We uniquely tailor support to every survivor as the needs of each case are different. Our cases
remain open for as long as services are needed by the family. Should a case be closed, and the
family reaches out for needed services, they will be assisted.

How was the family impacted?

• Lost their child to gun violence
• Parent lost their job as a result
• Food insecurity due to loss of income
• Family and friends were struggling with grief and needed access to healing resources

How did we intervene?

• Provided access/connection to healing resources such as traditional therapy and nontraditional
therapeutic outlets
• Provided food delivery to the family to address food insecurity twice/week
• Provided retaliation intervention counseling
• Advocacy to support unemployment due to job loss
• Creation of a documentary to honor the loss, creating a positive outlet for grief and recovery
• Provided full case management services
• Coordinated a community healing space, not only for the family but for youth that have been
directly impacted by this incident. This event engaged other community organizations and
provided art therapy and a Stop the Bleed training.

What were the outcomes?

• Prevented retaliation shooting: There has been no retaliation shooting since the initial gun
shooting incident
• Family has been connected with resources that have aided in their recovery and healing process
• Family has been empowered to move forward in their own healing, including advocating for new
pathways to prevent and end gun violence
PEACEMAKERS
Street-level Violence prevention and intervention program
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for
they shall be called the children of God”

Peacemakers is a neighborhood patrol and community safety initiative modeled after the
2009 CRA funded Overtown Peacemakers Project that drastically reduced crime and
increased residents use of available resources and services. Peacemakers function as a non-
armed community safety and response team and provide community peace keeping services.
They serve as role models for youth, model good citizenship practices for the community, and
assist community residents with dissolving gang warfare, offering conflict resolution,
participating in neighborhood sanitation and health related campaigns that exist or arise,
conducting door to door canvassing and office data collection; and hosting educational and
recreational activities for youth.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• In October 2022, we re-launched the Peacemakers after the program was de-funded by
local government. Circle of Brotherhood, Dream Defenders, and Touching Miami with Love
fundraised resources to hire 10 Peacemakers in Liberty City and Overtown.
• We were selected from a highly competitive pool of federal applicants to receive funding
from the White House’s Community Violence Intervention Program. We will receive $2M
over a three-year period. These resources will allow us to scale up our operation in the
coming months.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
mobile crisis unit
Providing our youth with safe space
Young people in Miami Dade County are experiencing extreme levels of violence and trauma.
Yet, our system is not equipped to help them process their experiences, leading to depression,
Responding to mental health crises without the police
anxiety, self harm and retaliatory violence. In order to stop gun violence, young people and
our communities need a safe space to heal and process the traumatic experiences they are
up against and the many root causes that lead to harm and conflict. Our young people need
safe places to get off the streets and supportive adults who can help them plan for their
futures and navigate life’s challenges.
S
Our afterschool programming helps young people build social-emotional skills so they can
build healthy relationships with themselves and others. We introduce them to a wide range of
healing modalities and healthy coping mechanisms, teach them skills to de-escalate conflict
before it turns deadly and develop life skills for their future, such as resume building and
internships.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• We worked with 150 middle and high school youth across 3 summer program sites, 1 spring
break site and 1 year-round afterschool program site.
• The majority of students in our program said they word recommend the program to their
friends and that the program helped them improve how they are doing in school, how they
get along with other youth and helped them stay out of trouble
• We worked with a group of 30 boys who lost 2 of their best friends to gun violence this
summer. Youth were given safe space to grieve, trained in stop the bleed and recruited into
long term services with the HJC.
• Youth in our program were given access to a wellness coach to help them set personal
goals and troubleshoot challenges.
Doctors within borders
community clinic
Free health services to the uninsured and under-insured
We opened the Doctors Within Borders Community Clinic on March 3, 2022 in partnership
with the State of Florida. We are currently operating 3 days/week for about 15 hours/week. We
have 1 physician, 15 volunteer physicians, 2 case managers and 40 volunteer medical
students.

We offer everything that would be offered at a traditional urgent care facility. In addition, we
offer temporary management of patients who do not have a primary care physician,
telemedicine, hospital visits, home visits, access to specialists, medical triage and financial
assistance for medications and co-payments and medical triage. Our case management
services include: Medicare/Medicaid sign-ups and support, indigent care, social security,
disability, fighting eviction, access to critical documents (IDs, birth certificates, social security
cards), sign-ups for food stamps and transportation to appointments.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Since March, we have seen 100 unique patients and have had 400+ patient encounters
• 70 percent of our patients have no insurance. 30 percent are on Medicaid, Medicare or
have indigent care through the Public Health Trust.
• We have hired 2 case managers to develop and implement our case management
program.
• We have held 4 community health events, reaching 500 participants.
 What's COMING In 2023?
• Freedom House Mobile Crisis will increase our hours in the next 12 months.
• We are creating a sobering center, a short-term care facility designed
to allow an individual who is intoxicated to safely recover from the debilitating
effects of alcohol and drugs and avoid incarceration.

• We are expanding our youth services. In January, we will have three program
sites across Miami Dade County in partnership with SEED School, Liberty
Square and Touching Miami with Love. We will also hold a monthly county-
wide youth meeting to build relationships across communities.

• To kick off Summer 2023, we are hosting a Peace Summit, bringing together
youth across Miami Dade County to build relationships with each other and
develop solutions to violence in our communities.
• We will be hosting listening sessions across Miami Dade to gain a deeper
understanding of what communities are experiencing, gather ideas around
what is needed to end violence and sign people up for our programs
• We are expanding our Peacemakers street team and building out a Safe
Passages program to help young people get home from school safely.
• We are growing our team! To check out available positions, visit:
bit.ly/HJCopenings

To sign up for any of our services or

to learn more about the HJC, call us at
To refer yourself or someone you know 1.866SAFEMIA
to our Trauma recovery center, visit:
Bit.ly/MIATRC
To sign up for online counseling, visit;
Bit.ly/ddcounseling
To Volunteer viist: Bit.ly/HJCvolunteers v

For jobs, visit: bit.ly/hjcopenings

 THANK YOU TO OUR
Generous supporters

We are ETERNALLY grateful FOR the endless support, wisdom and heart that THESE
AMAZING PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS have poured into this project. Thank you!
Adejare McMillian, LMFT, Founding Clinical Coordinator
Shimon Cohen, MSW
Aqeela Sherrills
Dr. Aquil Basheer
Gretchen Rohr
Ben Adam Climer
Interrupting Criminalization
Andrea Ritchie
Shira Hassan
Mariame Kaba
Elliot Jones
MACRO Oakland
Alana Greer
Dr. Tisa McGhee
Wayne Rawlins
Pastor Mike McBride
Charisse Grant
Ruth Jeannoel