Senator Michelle Hinchey and Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado Announce $170,000 for Samadhi Gun Violence Prevention Program

KINGSTON, NY – Senator Michelle Hinchey and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado today announced $170,000 in state funding that they have secured for the nationally-lauded anti-gun violence prevention program, CURE, operated locally by organizers at the Samadhi Recovery Community Outreach Center and known as the Samadhi Anti-Gun Violence Prevention Program. Senator Hinchey first brought the CURE model to Kingston in 2021, having created a line item in the State Budget to fund the program, and has secured $50,000 each year to keep it running, for a total appropriation of $100,000. The Governor’s office has committed $70,000 to Samadhi for gun violence prevention efforts and Congressman Pat Ryan $430,000 through a federal grant initially moved through by former Congressman Antonio Delgado.

The CURE Violence Model is an evidence-based violence prevention program that originated in Chicago to address gang violence and reduce retaliatory killings. The program employs trained outreach workers, also known as “credible messengers,” who have strong ties to their community and relationships with young adults, local leaders, and service providers. Focused primarily on youth between the ages of 14 and 24, credible messengers work with law enforcement to try and prevent retaliatory gun violence before it happens, respond to incidents, and re-direct the young people away from life on the streets by linking youth with needed services, such as mental health support, jobs, housing, substance use programs, and educational opportunities.

“Ulster County has experienced unimaginable trauma, loss, and devastation caused by gun violence, and I am proud to have delivered the first stream of state funding that allowed Samadhi to create a community-led program that will make our streets safer and help youth seek meaningful life pathways away from violence,” Senator Michelle Hinchey said. “There is no work more important than keeping our communities safe, and that is the work being championed by local advocates and law enforcement through Samadhi’s Anti-Gun Violence Prevention Program. We need all hands on deck in the fight against gun violence, and I thank Governor Hochul and Lt. Governor Delgado for supporting this community-based solution that has already succeeded in saving lives.”

“It’s incredibly rewarding to announce today that funding I secured while in Congress has made it across the finish line and into the program here at Samadhi Recovery Outreach Center to support their gun violence prevention program,” said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. “There is no one size fits all approach to stemming gun violence – we need to come at it from every angle and this innovative program is helping us get to the heart of the problem in the neighborhoods, in the streets, where the violence is most prevalent."

“The work of Senator Hinchey and the Governor's Office clearly portrays the concern in addressing community violence intervention programs, knowing these programs are a critical part of a comprehensive approach to reduce the impact of rising gun violence in Kingston communities,” said Debra Long, Director of the Samadhi Anti-Gun Violence Program. “The impact of increased gun violence, particularly on young people of color, must not be overlooked. Efforts to reduce gun violence need to address the underlying societal conditions that are causing violence—such as concentrated poverty, gaps in available public health resources, and community trauma, many of which have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is a jumpstart in allowing the above causes to begin to be addressed.”

Samadhi Executive Director David Mcnamara said, “The Samadhi Anti-Gun Violence Prevention Program treats gun violence like a disease by identifying its causes and interrupting its transmission. This program is based on the CURE Violence model, which teaches that individuals can stop the cycle of violence by curbing their own violent practices and using their influence to change how their community views aggression."

City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble said, “The City of Kingston is grateful to our Lt. Governor Delgado and Senator Hinchey for helping to secure federal and state funding to further the work of the Anti-Gun Violence Program run locally by Samadhi. The City of Kingston provided $20,000 in funding to seed and initially implement this program, and we’re grateful to see it flourish and continue thanks for the efforts of our Lt Governor, State Senator, and the work of dedicated community members.”

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