The original office of the Clergy Police Community Partnership, located in Southeast Washington, DC (Ward 8).
A Vision Born from Urgency: 2000-2025
In October 2000, amid a surge in youth violence that gripped the East of the River communities, the East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership (ERCPCP) was born. Inspired by Boston’s TenPoint Coalition, the organization emerged as a faith-rooted response to a local crisis. Spearheaded by then-Police Chief Charles Ramsey, and supported by Rev. Anthony Motley and Rev. Donald Isaac, ERCPCP forged a groundbreaking collaboration between clergy, law enforcement, and community members with a singular purpose: to reclaim safety and restore hope.
What began as a replication became a revolution — tailored to the unique needs of Washington, DC’s youth and returning citizens. For 25 years, ERCPCP has stood at the intersection of faith, justice, and public safety, confronting violence with compassion, and replacing fear with opportunity.
Planting Seeds, Pulling Weeds
Through Saturday convenings of faith leaders, restorative reentry programs, and transitional housing initiatives like the acquisition of 4115 First Street (purchased in 2010 with the help of local churches and Bank of America), the organization evolved into a hub for healing and empowerment. Whether mentoring students at Ballou High School, encouraging youth under supervision at New Beginnings Youth Development Center, or providing trauma-informed care citywide, ERCPCP has always understood that lasting safety starts with dignity.
Co-founder Rev. Donald Lee Isaac, Sr. in conversation with community leader and clergy member Nana Rudolf Stewart, III at 40 Days of Increased Peace, a partnership between East of the River Clergy Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Since its inception, ERCPCP has sown seeds of peace through transformative programs like Girl Talk and Man 2 Man at Ballou Senior High School, offering safe spaces for youth to grow emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. In the community, initiatives like the Benning Terrace Initiative and 40 Days of Increased Peace brought neighbors together to reclaim their blocks and build trust.
Progress Through Partnerships
From the lowest homicide rate in decades in 2012 and 2013, to the long-standing partnerships with DC’S Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), and Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE), the data measures progress, but it’s the lives transformed that count the most. Home-grown heroes like Kenneth Glover, a program participant turned construction industry leader, and Credible Messenger James Carpenter embody the true impact of ERCPCP’s work.
Current Executive Director Don Isaac, Jr. stands with partners carrying the CPCP mission forward today. Through emerging collaborations with Life Enhancement Services and the Smithsonian Institution, ERCPCP continues to deliver culturally relevant, community-centered programs across Washington, DC.
These milestones are never reached alone. From local agencies and District officials to philanthropic allies like the Casey Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, and Enterprise Community Partners, ERCPCP’s work has always been fueled by strong, sustained partnerships. Federal support from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and Office of Juvenile Justice has also been instrumental in shaping a blueprint for safer, more equitable communities. Programs like VIP City and the Coordinating Committee to Prevent Youth Violence helped usher in one of the safest periods in DC’s recent history — reminding us that lasting change begins with collective action.
Transforming Communities Together: The First Street Village Opportunity Zone Fund
With the ownership of an entire city block, ERCPCP is poised to bring its mission full circle. First Street Village is bigger than an Opportunity Zone Fund — it’s a declaration. A hub where displaced citizens can rebuild, where families can thrive, and where East of the River can reimagine its future. Anchored by inclusive housing at 4115, a forthcoming Family Success Center, and vibrant arts programming, First Street Village represents ERCPCP’s deepest truth: community safety begins with community stability.
Better Together in 2025
As we honor 25 years of service, our theme: Better Together, is both celebration and invitation. It affirms our legacy and calls new partners to join us as we build what’s next. We invite you to join the coalition and celebrate with us at the Better Together Gala and Awards on
November 1, 2025.
Sponsorship Tiers and Benefits
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