DCJS Commissioner Rossana Rosado Visits Utica Youth Programs as New York Invests $20 Million in Violence Prevention

UTICA, N.Y. — New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado visited youth programs in Utica Monday as New York State announced a $20 million investment in community-based organizations providing youth services and violence-prevention programs in 10 communities across the state.

The visit offered Rosado an opportunity to see firsthand how Project RISE and community partnerships are translating state investment into programs that directly reach young people in Utica.

Rosado met with youth and community partners and watched students enrolled in life-skills programming cook and prepare lunch. She was impressed by their engagement and by the organization’s ability to incorporate practical learning into a supportive environment.

Community stakeholders pose with Commissioner Rosado and her staff

Image 1 of 7

Community stakeholders pose with Commissioner Rosado and her staff

The commissioner also observed a financial-literacy session conducted in collaboration with Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency Civic Engagement Director Darlene Mack-Brown and staff. Young people learned practical lessons about managing money and making informed financial decisions.

Rosado praised Utica Royalties Founder and Executive Director Hawa Peters for listening to young people and creating safe spaces that support their development and well-being.

Peters said Utica Royalties seeks to give young people more than activities — it wants them to recognize their own value and possibilities.

Peters’ philosophy is reflected in the organization’s name. She believes children should be encouraged to dream big, live with dignity and see themselves as worthy of opportunity — like royalty.

Her commitment is rooted in her own life story. Born in Kenya as a refugee, Peters later lived in Sierra Leone and Florida before returning to Utica in 2014. Experiences with poverty, displacement and the loss of her brother during civil war helped shape her decision to leave nursing and devote herself full time to developing programs for young people.

Rosado also reflected on the important role Utica’s refugee and immigrant communities have played in the city’s resurgence.

She noted that refugees helped rehabilitate homes, rebuild neighborhoods and bring new life to areas of Utica, including the Genesee Street corridor. Funding cuts beginning in 2016 created challenges for some community-based efforts, she said, making continued investment and new initiatives particularly important.

Utica’s transformation extends beyond individual neighborhoods. Investments in downtown development, entrepreneurship and business-incubator programs have helped the city retain more young residents while attracting people interested in walkable urban communities.

Heather Wasielewski, Utica Common Council member-at-large, spoke about how Community Development Block Grant funding makes a difference by providing resources for youth retention and public-safety programs.

She also highlighted On Point for College, which provides mentors, internships and vocational and academic support for Utica Royalties youth and young people in surrounding communities.

Rosado emphasized that effective public safety depends on partnerships among law enforcement, community organizations, families and programs that give young people opportunities to succeed.

“Public safety is strengthened when young people have a strong network of support and a clear sense of what is possible for their future. Project RISE helps build that foundation by connecting youth and families with mentors, mental health services, education, employment, and other opportunities that can change the course of a life. Governor Hochul understands that this work requires sustained commitment, and we are proud to help carry that vision forward,” Rosado said.

Rosado also praised the collaboration among law enforcement, Project RISE and community organizations. She noted that law enforcement often receives attention for arrests and enforcement actions but is less frequently recognized for its participation in youth programs, violence prevention and positive community engagement.

That partnership is showing encouraging signs in Utica. Officials noted during the visit that the city has recorded only one reported homicide so far this year.

Rosado commended Project RISE partners and local law enforcement for their continued work, while emphasizing the importance of prevention and providing young people with positive alternatives before they become involved in violence.

Mona Lisa Fermin-Fennell, Project RISE program coordinator, said financial investment is only one component of building programs that can survive and grow.

“Staff training and resources are essential to the sustainability of these programs,” Fermin-Fennell said.

The new state investment announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul is designed to strengthen these kinds of community-based efforts.

Project RISE — Respond, Invest, Sustain and Empower — supports organizations in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. The initiative recognizes that trusted neighborhood organizations are often best positioned to reach young people, connect families with resources and address factors that contribute to violence.

Peters currently serves as the organization’s only paid staff member, supported by volunteers and partnerships throughout the community. Utica Royalties provides mentoring, life-skills education, cultural programming and opportunities designed to support young people’s educational, emotional and social development.

The organization also works closely with community resource providers to connect young people and families with additional services.

Rosado’s visit underscored a central message behind Project RISE: Sustainable public safety requires more than enforcement. It requires investment in young people, strong community organizations, trained staff and cooperation among residents, service providers and law enforcement.

For Peters, that work ultimately comes down to ensuring that children know they matter.

Utica Royalties seeks to create an environment where young people from every background feel valued, heard and supported — and where they have the tools and opportunities to build their own futures.

Utica Royalties, Inc. is a Utica-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people through mentoring, education, cultural enrichment, life-skills development and community engagement. Its programs are designed to build confidence, leadership and pathways to opportunity.

For additional information about Utica Royalties, contact Hawa Peters, Founder and Executive Director, at 315-224-5277.