Akron’s Street Team Program, a community-based violence prevention effort, has reported mediating 51 conflicts between October 2025 and March 2026. The program, which uses trusted messengers to connect with at-risk residents, de-escalate conflicts, and offer alternatives to violence, has been operating in the city for over a year.
Program Details
The Street Team Program is led by two full-time ‘Curbside Counselors’ who have been trained to recognize mental health issues and provide culturally grounded and trauma-informed care. The program has served all ages across the city, including intensive services in certain areas and at the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center.
Pastor Jeffrey Dennis, the CEO of Minority Behavioral Health Group, praised the program’s efforts, saying, ‘Their work represents the very best of community service and represents an effort toward healing in our community.’
The program was initially funded by the City Council in October 2024 with a $185,000 grant to hire and train a Street Team during an 18-month pilot program. The City Council’s Budget Committee is set to review the program’s funding on June 29.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
