The Trellis Crew is a growing group of students of color who attend community meetings addressing and educating about various issues.The crew then provide reports sharing their perspectives and findings.

One of the regular meetings they cover are NYPD precinct meetings. The vision, on top of the reports, is to have them there so that the community and officers know that the students care about and are engaged and valuable participants in addressing public safety in their neighborhood.

Here are some recent reports from some of our crew

This community meeting happen to take place in a very rustic building, and it was friendly environment. The NYPD hosted the meeting and happen to be very nicely put together. Today’s meeting was one of the rare times that I actually felt comfortable and respected around police officers. The meeting was specifically about local neighborhood issues such as double and regular parking and recycling and etc. it almost felt as if the police felt concerned for the neighborhood. The interesting thing is when you normally encounter a cop people usually are on the negative end of a situation but frankly today’s meeting was living proof that their are genuine cops that care for the community and the people that live and face these issues daily and want to help make it a better place. The room got a little quiet when I walked in,as if a 17 year old teenage boy didn’t have business there. But when they saw I was there for a good cause to my presence and seeing the youth of the community being apart of meetings shows true diversity.
Reporter / Observers notes :
Genuine kindness and appreciation for the local residents and their concerns
Nice Calm conversation and true Respect looming in the air
Healthy conversation
Appropriate manner with respect
Nice snacks
Happy people
The neighborhood was like far away but close to red hook, like a nice little village or community

The NYPD has hosted the follow up meeting for Building The Block, And it sure did deliver. As I walked into this cafe (hidden gem I might add) in the Gowanus neighborhood, I got the sense of comfort. For once I didn’t feel like I had to have my guard up, but I just had to be naturally me. As the NYPD expressed their satisfaction in hearing the community issues are about speeding and parking issues, as compared to what they were when they were growing up, as the Gowanus neighborhood wasn’t always this nice and calmer. The neighborhood issues back then consisted of slashing, and murders and homicides. “But nonetheless these are issues that we will do our best to partnership with this lovely community and tackle together.”
As young adult living in the Gowanus neighborhood growing up, I simply never respected cops, but I never knew the exact reason why. My excuses were “they are ops” or “they are going to try and lock me up” but that’s simply not the case. If the community can attend more of these meetings and see the NYPDs true intentions, this district or even this world would be a completely better place.
Reporters notes :
Neighborhood cops
Stop signs request, but traffic wouldn’t help that case
“Consistency matters, so this community needs to fix this “
I get happy when I get a report about graffiti or parking issues or even weed smoking on the block, because a long time ago this neighborhood wasn’t the same. I remember when a couple decades ago I’d get reports of murders and homicides, so things like these are much easier and better to hear and handle.
“I don’t want my kid to have the mindset I had growing up that when you see a cop to immediately think negatively, you guys are here for us. So I brought him to this meeting to show him that you guys are our friends “- local resident
“We are NCO’s [neighborhood coordinating officers] for a reason, we applied to work with the community. A long time ago it was a hi and bye thing, but now I get to get out my car and have a 30 minute conversation with someone from the area, regardless of who they are. We will and have been respectful, and sometimes we won’t receive that respect back always, but we will insist on being more active.”
Khalil Baxter

These meetings provide an important monthly opportunity for the community to voice concerns about safety in the community and for relationships to be built between the community and the police.

You can find out more about where and when your local precinct’s meetings are HERE