Stono Institute for Freedom, Justice and Security

Our current program seeks to improve the lives of children and families by providing race conscious, bias-free, courteousness, and know your rights police de-escalation training to communities of color and law enforcement operating to minority communities. We would like to provide training to children (youth) and families throughout Orange County targeting communities of color. Our de-escalation program is innovative and is derived from West African cultural principles and Martin Luther King’s, Jr.’s Principles of Non-Violent Social Change. Our de-escalation curriculum seeks to prevent conflict and build trust, understanding, and cooperation between minority communities and law enforcement.

Our curriculum is specifically aimed at reducing conflict during stops and seeks to:

1) Recognize and value individuality and the human dignity of every person. 2) Know one's rights, duties and responsibilities under the law.
3) Enhance rational responsiveness and reduce the likelihood of unnecessary conflict.

4) Equip citizens with the confidence to manage stressful situations. 

5) Challenge internal biases, assumptions, stereotypes, and generalizations. 6) Seek a safe and peaceful resolution of hostility by: 

 a) Enhancing cooperation. 

 b) Recognizing the power and impact of your words. 

 c) Employing language that is respectful and compliant; and 

 d) Managing hostile encounters with emotional intelligence, de-escalates conflict and creates safe environments. 

We are continuously seeking to bridge the gap between business structure in predominantly Black communities and law enforcement by providing de-escalation training.  We have embarked on innovative curriculum for conflict de-escalation for citizens and the police and for people of color working in predominantly white communities and businesses in predominantly Black communities. We have already implemented trainings with non-profit organizations, community and youth organizations, law enforcement agencies and affinity groups. We have discovered in our work in civilian police relations and circumstances that there is a need for de-escalation training that has not been fulfilled. SIFJS has taken it upon ourselves to incorporate the curriculum for these needs. 

The objective of the Racial Justice Police De-escalation Program is to increase participants ability to de-escalate conflict with law enforcement and community members by scheduling group trainings, using the Stono Institute’s unique curriculum and approach. It seeks to prevent conflict and build trust, understanding, and cooperation between program participants, law enforcement and community members. 

This groundbreaking curriculum and our other racial justice de-escalation initiatives are designed to combat anti-Black bias in policing and reduce excessive uses of force by: 1) building trust, familiarity, empathy and community cooperation between police officers and Black youth and adults through a series of race conscious training’s using face to face conversations, role playing, case scenarios and teachings in African American history and culture and; 2) training youth and adults in de-escalation strategies to reduce conflict and deadly violence during traffic stops and other interactions with police.

Nearly 61% of arrested individuals in Orange Country are Black and African Americans are arrested at a rate that is 31.3% higher than their representation in the population. Many of these arrests can be attributed to the inability of citizens and law enforcement to de-escalate conflict during traffic stops. Sixty-five percent of resident in Orange County believe that we need more intervention programs that expand mentoring for young adults. Gun violence among youth is highest in predominantly Black zip codes. According to the Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force Report, "minor violations juveniles are charged with within the four zip codes with the highest juvenile arrest numbers in Orange County (32808, 32805, 32839 and 32811). Of these, by far, the most common charge, accounting for 42% of all charges, was for not following rules imposed by the court system: Violation of Probation and Failure to Appear in Court. The next most common reasons, which accounted for 17% of charges, were minor violations, including Resisting without Violence, Drug/Paraphernalia Possession or Sale, Criminal Mischief, Loitering, School Disruption, Disorderly Conduct, and Petit Theft, all of which are “the product of normal adolescent behavior.”"

While our community addresses the issue of over policing, our approach seeks to provide a long-term ongoing impact by investing in prevention by de-escalating conflict during interactions with law enforcement. One of the root-causes of arrests, for example, resisting without violence, and other padded offenses, is the failure to de-escalate interactions. Citizens must know their rights, duties and responsibilities and employ techniques to avoid escalation even when law enforcement officials fail to do so. This approach supports the findings int he Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force Report. 

We are currently implemented in Florida.

The organization's mission is to help sustain small businesses that provide resources within the African-American communities and neighborhoods. We partner with the business community, law enforcement, civil society, and others to assist victims of racial injustice seek justice, support community-based restorative justice initiatives, and provide education and training to law enforcement personnel. 

1. Increase youth and family’s ability to de-escalate conflict with law enforcement and decrease inter-community violence. One hundred and fifty and 75% of program participants who are not involved nor have repeat involvement/offenses with law enforcement and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) system during the time of intervention or 90 days post service

Each participant of the scheduled workshops will receive quality assurance surveys, which will be used to assess individual learning outcomes, and when appropriate data and information will be collected from community centers of gravity about individual participants. 

Ongoing conflict de-escalation trainings will be conducted for partner schools, churches and community centers (community centers of gravity), using the Stono Institute’s unique curriculum and approach. Each participant of the scheduled workshops will receive quality assurance surveys, which will be used to assess individual learning outcomes, and when appropriate data and information will be collected from community centers of gravity about individual participants. 

2. Provide children and families with vital know your rights and de-escalation training. One hundred and fifty and 75% of program participants demonstrate an increase in knowledge, information and community resources to de-escalate conflict with law enforcement and among community members and utilize country resources when their rights have been violated. Each participant of the scheduled workshops will receive quality assurance surveys, which will be used to assess individual learning outcomes, and when appropriate data and information will be collected from community centers of gravity about individual participants. 

Ongoing conflict de-escalation trainings will be conducted for partner schools, churches and community centers (community centers of gravity), using the Stono Institute’s unique curriculum and approach. Each participant of the scheduled workshops will receive quality assurance surveys, which will be used to assess individual learning outcomes, and when appropriate data and information will be collected from community centers of gravity about individual participants. Complaints and violations data and information will be collected, analyzed and acted upon when necessary. 

We currently serve 10 corporate entities. We would like to serve 25 including municipalities, local and state governments, law enforcement agencies and high schools. 

Predominately Black communities, Washington Shores, Parramore, Holden Heights, Apoka. Corporations, law enforcement

We have provided our innovative trainings to the Orlando Magic players and basketball operations, our Racial Justice Youth Scholars from our Rites of Passage Program, the students from the Parramore Kidz Zone, the participants of the Boys & Girls Club and the Orlando community at-large. 

Lastly, we have conducted Bias-Free Police trainings with the command staff of Seminole County Sheriff's Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 

Sponsors:

Central Florida Foundation

Florida Blue

Ginsburg Family Foundation

Orlando Magic

Universal Studios Florida

Truist

OUC

All of our stakeholders influence the organization. It reflects in the permanent Board and Advisory Board. 

The Stono Institute will collaborate with the Central Florida branch of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives to supplement de-escalation-related trainings, members of the clergy and mental health professionals on pro-social skills, and legal experts on justice coaching liaison work. 

During the first two years we leveraged points of contact with our partner schools, churches and community centers. We relied on our relationships with these institutions to directly recruit students and utilized existing students to recruit other students. We will continue to utilize this approach and focus greater attention on identifying, engaging and retaining students participating in community centers in our target areas that are managed by Families, Parks and Recreation in Orange County and the City of Orlando. 

We look to expand the staff trainers and implement an online training program that will allow the organizations to get in-person or online training completed. As we continue to further develop and expand our partnerships we will implement the programs within the organizations as training tools used for citizens and even hiring processes. Eventually, we may be able to expand and work with universities and other bigger entities to incorporate the trainings. 

Our team has both the experience and background that positions us in the unique position to deliver the solutions. One of the Racial Justice Advocate- Trainer has a Juris Doctor, BA with two years experience. Our other Racial Justice Advocate-Trainer has a Juris Doctor, MA Counseling and BA with four years experience. The President & CEO has a PhD, Juris Doctor and BA with 30 years experience. Our directed services provided include training, coordination, student interaction and mentoring. 

The monetary award would further assist with the expansion that will directly impact the staff we will be able to have to assist with the trainers for the businesses. As an organization that will continue outreach with organizations within the Central Florida area (and potentially expand) the recognition of our organization will further allow us to reach the communities we strive to enhance. 

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