An environmentally sustainable approach that focuses on keeping public spaces clean by picking up trash
Enhancing urban areas with greenery, such as trees, gardens and street planters.
Strategic approach to improve visibility and increase safety, which can contribute to reducing crime rates.
Installing resident-owned home security systems is an effective strategy to reduce crime rates in neighborhoods by enhancing the protection of individual properties.
investing in neighbors, block-by-block
PhillySafe is a non-profit organization with the mission to provide crime deterrence to urban environments. It uses the latest epidemiology and criminology research and seeks to engage community leaders in the implementation of innovative solutions to reduce crime in high crime areas.
Specifically, PhillySafe has leveraged crime data in the city of Philadelphia and identified 14 out of 44 zip codes that account for 80% of the 2,100+ shootings in 2021. Through its research, it has identified four proven crime deterrence actions:
1. Lighting
2. Cleaning
3. Greening
4. Home security technologies (i.e., cameras)
We seek to implement these crime deterrence actions in “hot spots” across the 14 high gun crime zip codes of Philadelphia. In order to implement these solutions, we will coordinate and contract with partner organizations (i.e., business cooperatives), local small businesses (i.e., electricians, landscapers), and other non-profits. The program was piloted across 10 blocks in West Philadelphia in the summer of 2022. From its pilot lessons learned, it successfully partnered with other non-profits to develop an integrated solution concentrated in North Philadelphia in the 19132 zip code. The 19132 zip code is one of the deadliest zip codes in Philadelphia. Our ambition is to expand to other neighborhoods deemed "hot spots" across the 14 zip codes in the city that account for 80% of the gun violence in Philadelphia. By adopting our place-based investments, the research has proven that all crime will decrease. These investments are the best short terms investments the city can and should make to address the gun violence crisis situation plaguing our city. In addition to the place-based investments, the program has engaged data scientists and epidemiologists for baselining, measurement, and tracking of our results. Our data driven approach ensure investments are actively managed to ensure our desired outcomes of reduced gun violence, reduced crime, and improved quality of life. Funding for our activities is made possible through government grants as well as philanthropic and private donations. We aspire for the Mayor and City Council to leverage our program so that it is rolled out throughout the city. The impact will be transformative to the city and its citizens.
Reverend Buck, who holds a B.A. from Potomac University, a Masters of Divinity from Howard University School of Divinity, and a Doctorate from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, is currently the Senior Pastor at Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, having previously served as Pastor at Berean Baptist Church of North Philadelphia.
Buckley, who graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A., is the founder and CEO of Semcap, a venture fund that invests in Food and Nutrition, Healthcare, and Education. Prior to Semcap, he founded and served as President and CEO of Internet Capital Group (ICG), where he invested $1.4 billion in 61 start-up firms, and also served as Vice President of Acquisitions at Safegaurd Scientifics. Additionally, Buckley serves as a director for several startups, including Diagnostic Bio Chips, Dropps, and Margaux, and is the Lead Director on FS Investments Global Debt Fund.
Kothari, who holds a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College, a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School, is currently an advisor to Trax Retail, a $2+ billion pre-IPO company that leverages computer vision technology for the consumer products and retail industry. He previously served as the Chief Revenue Officer of Trax Retail, Managing Director of Accenture, and Co-Founder & Senior Vice President of Procurian.
Amy Kothari, who holds a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College and an MBA from American University, recently stepped down after 20 years as the CEO of MY Alarm Center ("MAC"), a leading residential home security provider and is currently a member of the MAC board of directors. She previously served as an Executive Director at CIBC World Markets and held various finance positions at Comcast and Cox Communications.
PhillySafe is partnering with 4 non-profits to develop and integrated and comprehensive solution in the 19132 zip code. The integrated program is called “Area 32.” The Area 32 program will implement PhillySafe’s place-based investments (cleaning, greening, and lighting), Culture Changing Christians’ youth mentoring, Endangered Kind’s violence interrupters and peer support, Victory in Norf’s youth basketball, and EMIR Healing Center’s survivor and trauma services. Impact Services is serving as the program manager. Spring Point Partners served as a funding sponsor. Area 32 is funded through the Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CCVI) grant administered by Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The grant was awarded in January 2023.
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