Employment for security at Florida Group’s public housing complex is the first of its kind

Described as the first program of its kind, Miami nonprofit Circle of Brotherhood was hired to provide security for the Liberty City public housing project.

To reduce community crime and promote positive relationships, the Buena Vista Public Housing Complex Management contracted with a local nonprofit that focused on community police rather than using private security or hiring police officers who are not working.

Liberty City’s public housing development has been hiring nonprofits since December to reduce crime in Miami’s black community through mentorship and crime prevention tactics. The organization officially announced its partnership at a press conference earlier this month. The press conference coincided with the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab Community Violent Intervention Intervention Leadership Academy’s graduation ceremony in Miami. The Academy trains leaders in violent intervention with the goal of reducing gun violence.

“If community violence intervention becomes equal in the public safety ecosystem, we can significantly reduce crime and violence,” Lyle Muhammad, executive director of Brotherhood circles, a graduate of the Academy of Leadership, told the Miami Herald. “We know. There’s a formula that works.”

Created in 2013, The Circle of Brotherhood is an organization led primarily by black men who work to address the issue of gun violence in Miami through community service, conflict resolution and education services.

Buena Vista, formerly known as Lincoln Fields, was built in 1946, according to real estate records. Residents have suffered from poor living conditions of property and ramp-prolonged crimes in recent years. The 214-unit property has nearly 300 people and works with nonprofit organizations such as the Overtown Youth Centre to provide family and youth-centered services.

According to Muhammad, he took part in the development that owned the development. “They trust not only do business as usual, but they trust new processes of community reform and transformation,” he said. The Buena Vista property manager did not respond to requests for comment.

Tina Brown, CEO of the Overtown Youth Centre, recognised the need for community policing and then linked the Brotherhood circle with participating development.

“Our goal was to really ensure that residents feel they have the voice and service they need,” Brown said. “However, this particular residential development has had many safety and security challenges.”

Brown said that when some crimes occurred, residents felt uncomfortably calling police and were scared to report crimes because they were perceived as “no Snitch policy.” “It was creating enormous amounts of safety concerns for other residents, which is why the circle of brotherhood was really sought for that,” she said.

Muhammad calls himself a community safety servant and works on three shifts, from 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 11pm and 11pm to 7am, with three people assigned to each shift. The goal is to attract escape tactics during conflict and build communities. They are also trained to manage CPR and first aid.

“We’re not in hostile policing mode. We’re there to serve,” he said.

Three months after Circle of Brotherhood was signed, Muhammad said he had some successes. But he said it wasn’t just a sin of exclusion, he wasn’t just engaged to young people in the community. During spring break, the organization provided week-long activities, including swimming and field trips.

Muhammad said having such activities builds trust in the community and prioritizes treating people with respect even when dealing with illegal activities.

“We treat every situation as isolated incidents, but we are trained,” Muhammad said.

“The trustworthy messengers and the individual respect we have, coupled with their training, can help us to pray and be able to respond appropriately at all times,” he said.