Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced $20 million in State funding to uplift ten communities disproportionately affected by gun violence through Project RISE: Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower. This initiative aims to improve public safety and will expand to three new locations: Hempstead, Troy, and Utica, continuing support to Albany, Buffalo, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers for its second year.
The funding will be disbursed among community-based organizations, each receiving up to $2 million. These funds are intended to implement and improve programs focused on increasing opportunities for youth and families, building the capacity of grassroots programs, and strengthening neighborhoods. “This investment addresses the root causes of gun violence by ensuring communities... have the resources they need to heal and thrive,” said Hochul. “These programs provide our youth with avenues for growth, educational and career opportunities, and countless other supports and services.”
Project RISE funding supports various initiatives, including mentoring, mental health services, restorative practices, and community trust-building actions. These efforts aim to tackle the trauma arising from exposure to violence and to fortify the resilience of youths, families, and neighborhoods.
The State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), responsible for administering Project RISE through its Office of Youth Justice, adopted a data-driven approach to identify the ten locations for funding. By analyzing demographics and poverty data from the American Community Survey, as well as violent crime and shooting statistics reported by local police departments, DCJS prioritized areas of need. Importantly, they engaged with residents and stakeholders to understand their pressing needs and challenges, ensuring the funding would yield significant benefits.
“It is...crucial we invest...and provide communities the necessary resources to heal,” stated Rossana Rosado, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. She emphasized how this funding empowers small grassroots organizations to have substantial impacts through enhanced services.
After community meetings, steering committees were established to oversee Project RISE's implementation. These committees operate with insights focused on healing and equity, collaborating to identify suitable programs for funding and supporting the development of initiatives addressing violence's underlying factors.
With the second year of funding, several organizations across New York State will again receive these significant contributions. For example, the Albany Boys and Girls Club is retaining $375,000 from their $500,000 allocation to support local initiatives alongside various partner organizations.
Meanwhile, the $20 million announcement isn't the only significant news coming from the Hudson Valley. SUNY Orange is gaining attention for its role in the rare discovery of mastodon remains, including a full jawbone, found by an Orange County family.
Earlier this fall, the family unearthed unusual items from their property and sought the expertise of SUNY Orange. Anthony Soricelli, a geology professor at the college, identified the items as mastodon teeth, which led to Dr. Cory Harris, chair of the College’s Behavioral Sciences Department, facilitating the connection with the New York State Museum.
Following this, museum personnel excavated the site, recovering not only the full mastodon jaw but also some additional skeletal remains. “This process played out exactly as it should have, and became a true partnership between the state and the College,” noted Harris.
The discovery presents educational opportunities, as Harris expressed hope for organizing supervised excavations to engage students with the process of learning about paleontology and archaeology firsthand. “What a great opportunity...for our students,” he remarked.
This isn’t the first time SUNY Orange has made headlines for mastodon discoveries. The college has previously housed “Sugar,” a mastodon skeleton found nearby and dated to around 7910 B.C. Sugar's impressive skeleton, which spans 20 feet and stands nearly nine feet tall at its pelvis, continues to greet students at the Bio-Tech building's entrance, linking the past to the present.
Both scenarios highlight significant efforts within the Hudson Valley—one aimed at revitalizing communities through targeted investment and programming to combat gun violence and the other celebrating local discoveries of prehistoric significance. Together, they signify how local initiatives can support community needs and also contribute to educational and scientific endeavors.
