East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership
25 Years Strong, and Better Together.
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Our Legacy
since 2000
In 1999, clergy from 20 local churches joined with the Metropolitan Police Department to answer a crisis: rising youth violence east of the Anacostia River. What started as a conversation became a commitment—one rooted in faith, accountability, and collective care. Since then, we have stood at the intersection of public safety, healing, and hope.
We've led national pilot programs, reentry initiatives, youth-police dialogues, and citywide violence prevention coalitions. Through partnerships with churches, schools, justice systems, and city agencies, we've walked alongside thousands of families on their journey from stability to success.
Our Mission
We are a 25-year strong organization, rooted in faith and community, headquarted in the Bellevue Community, East of the River in Washington, DC. We have led a decade's long movement to build bridges between law enforcement, clergy, returning citizens, and DC families. Since our founding in 2000, we have united with the most prominent minds and devoted hearts community for safety and restoration.
Our mission is to empower individuals and families east of the Anacostia River through collaborative, community-based solutions that drive lasting transformation. Through re-entry support, school-based initiatives, and neighborhood partnerships, we are helping reconstruct safe, thriving communities.
Our Impact
Programs, Events, and Outcomes
May 30, 2025Read more...On the eve of Mother’s Day, Washington, DC was filled with a powerful and rare kind of beauty: one that blooms at the intersection of pain, remembrance, and hope. The East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership (ERCPCP), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD),...Our Vision
We envision East of the River as a place of healing, restoration, and transformation. Through the collaborative work of clergy, residents, and partners, we are building healthy, self-sustaining neighborhoods that reflect God’s design for wholeness. As we move forward with initiatives like First Street Village, we remain focused on cultivating change agents, and restoring the village—brick by brick.
Public Safety & Mentorship
Our team of 7 Credible Messengers works daily to guide, support, and uplift youth in Washington, DC. Through our longstanding partnership with the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), ERCPCP has helped more than 60 justice-involved youth build brighter futures.
Wellness & Recovery
ERCPCP promotes mental health and community wellness through collaborative programs in Washington DC. In partnership with the Department of Behavioral Heath (DBH), local schools, churches, and nonprofits, we address crisis and trauma through art, diaolgue, and restorative practices. In 2025, we joined the city-wide Trauma Response Community Engagement Program (TRCEP). We hold weekly workshops, community canvases, and education-focused events.
Youth & Family Empowerment
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." — Frederick Douglass
When families succeed, communities thrive. Our work centers on equipping DC youth and families with the opportunities, tools, and support they need to maintain healthy lives. Our programs focus on prevention, connection, and building foundations that last for generations.
Community Development & Housing
We believe safe, stable housing is the foundation of personal and community transformation. That’s our "why" for First Street Village—a one-block community campus in Bellevue that fosters economic growth for everyone, and provides homes for returning citizens and families in transition.
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© ERCPCP 2025.