Cleveland, Ohio · Community-led
We turn lived experience into leadership, showing up for young people and building pathways to safety, healing, and opportunity.
The people. The moments. The movement.
Explore our photo galleryEveryday care, real connections, and a team proud to show up for Cleveland. This is New Gen Frontline 216.
A helping hand
Everyday connections
Together, with our community
One team. A shared purpose.
The New Gen spirit
Listening together
Our purpose, on the move
Together, with purpose
Showing up, togetherSelect any photo for a closer look.
01 / Who we are
The next generation is already here.New Gen Frontline 216 is a community-rooted movement preparing emerging adults to become credible messengers, mentors, and leaders in violence prevention.
Our name was chosen by the young people in Cleveland’s Junior Violence Interrupter Academy. It reflects a shared commitment: to use what we know, learn what we need, and help build a different future for our city.
We are part of the Cleveland Community Safety Collaborative, founded in 2026, powered by the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action (IRSJA), and working in partnership with Civilians Against Violence.
The people closest to the challenges belong at the center of the solutions.
Our guiding beliefStronger together
02 / What we do
Presence. Prevention. Possibility.Our work connects the everyday relationships that help young people feel supported with the skills and opportunities that help them lead.
A consistent, caring community presence helps students navigate the journey to and from school. Our credible messengers build relationships, support student engagement, and work with supervisors and community partners to identify concerns and connect young people with support.
We approach violence prevention through trust, communication, and care. Training in conflict mediation, emotional regulation, and trauma-informed practice helps our team engage young people, recognize emerging concerns, and support peaceful ways forward.
We invest in emerging adults as leaders with something to offer. Structured learning, mentorship, professional expectations, and opportunities for community service help turn lived experience into practical skills and pathways toward meaningful work.
From learning to leadership
Credibility is a starting point. Preparation helps it become purposeful community service.
The Junior Violence Interrupter Academy brings together leadership, communication, conflict mediation, ethical decision-making, and community engagement. Healing and self-awareness are part of that preparation, alongside the skills needed to support others.
Our commitment continues beyond the classroom through mentorship, supervision, ongoing learning, and accountability.
See how we work
The New Gen standard
From Lived Experience to Leadership
A guide to who we are, what we stand for, and how we lead. The playbook brings our shared expectations together: self-leadership, professionalism, accountability, communication, boundaries, integrity, and teamwork.
From the story behind the movement to the responsibilities of a Junior Violence Interrupter, it gives our emerging leaders a common foundation for serving their community.
03 / How we work
Care and accountability, together.Community safety is a shared responsibility. Our approach keeps relationships at the center and gives the people doing the work the structure to keep growing.
Build trust through consistent presence, respectful conversations, and relationships with young people, families, and community partners.
Pair lived expertise with practical training, healing-centered learning, professional expectations, and ongoing mentorship.
Work as a supervised team, communicate concerns through the right channels, and connect people with appropriate support.
Use responsible reporting, supervisor review, and community feedback to learn from the work while protecting sensitive information.
Our public story is about our purpose and our people. Individual student information, staff records, and operational deployment details stay private.
Stories & reports
Selected highlights from our program reports: what young people are learning, sharing, and building together.
Preview the public highlights A youth-voice look at the first two weeks of Safe Passage, highlighting trust, emerging leadership, workplace growth, and young people’s ideas for their school communities.
Based on the September 3, 2026 program check-in.
Preview the public highlights A one-week recognition initiative celebrated students’ positive choices. The program report records 10 students receiving $15 Chipotle gift cards after teacher verification and school-leadership approval.
Selected highlights from the New Gen Behavior Incentive Victory Highlight, Week 4.
These are dated, selected highlights, not the complete internal reports. Individual student details and personnel information are not shared here.
The people behind the purpose
IRSJA co-founders Dr. Jamila T. Davis and Angelo Pinto bring healing-centered leadership, advocacy, and community violence prevention experience to this work alongside Cleveland’s local leaders and partners.
Meet the IRSJA team (opens in a new tab)Healing-centered leadership, education, and community empowerment.
Strategic oversight, policy development, and community-led change.
04 / Build with us
Let’s connect around community safety, youth leadership, training, and opportunity.
Start a conversationjdavis@theirsja.orgContact Dr. Jamila T. Davis / IRSJA
For schools, community organizations, employers, mentors, and others who want to support Cleveland’s next generation.
Email us with your name, organization if applicable, and the kind of collaboration you have in mind. We can discuss current opportunities and next steps.
Yes. Contact IRSJA to ask about current participation and training opportunities. Availability, eligibility, and any application steps will be confirmed directly; this website does not accept applications.
No. New Gen Frontline 216 is a community-based prevention and leadership initiative, not law enforcement or an emergency response service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
