Ubuntu Village Nola

he NOLA Peace Ambassadors (NPA) are community members who work to prevent conflicts from developing and intervening in potentially violent situations. They establish trust and credibility via personal ties and use strategies for de-escalation, such as mediation and outreach. Their work is critical in reducing violence and establishing community peace. The NPA collaborates with community cultural bearers, the Trauma Recovery Center, and the University Medical Center's Hospital-Based Violence Intervention program. Impact The program recorded over 18 conflict mediations, including both on-the-spot de-escalations and structured mediations. These efforts directly contributed to diffusing tensions and preventing retaliatory violence in the high-risk areas. We have also facilitated 25 community events, drawing a combined total of over 1025 participants. These events created safe spaces for residents to express concerns, build networks, and promote collective healing. The Peace Ambassadors convened five stakeholder-engaged and community partnership development meetings, with participation from local schools, law enforcement, faith leaders, and healthcare professionals, to help bridge communication gaps and build trust among sectors. Additionally, we identified and engaged with more than 35 high-risk individuals, providing them with direct mentorship and referring them to educational programs and employment assistance.

These programs educate parents who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system on the court process and train them to serve as peer parent navigators. We supported a core group of impacted parent leaders, worked with them to analyze the juvenile justice system, and encouraged peer-to-peer support among the parents. The parents could access the decision-making process, own their plans, achieve their identified outcomes, and commit to them. Through Ubuntu's leadership training, the parents became leaders in the courthouse and their neighborhoods. These parents have been through the process and are best equipped to guide their peers. Impact Ubuntu views parents as equal partners in education, improving practices, and creating social change through advocacy and policy. We expanded our Parent Leaders Educate for Action (PLEA) program and have engaged with 267 parents and caregivers. Additionally, we held group orientations and provided one-on-one support to parents and caregivers navigating the system, offering them accurate, informed guidance about their rights, the risks of incarceration, suitable rehabilitative options, and effective advocacy strategies.