Street workers collaborate, share strategies to keep Massachusetts communities safe [Video]

TODD. KAZAKIEWICH HAS MORE ON THE MISSION. THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT NETWORKING, RIGHT? AND GETTING TOGETHER AND EXPANDING OUR TEAMS AND EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK AND PROFESSIONALIZING THIS FIELD. THIS IS THE ANNUAL NEW ENGLAND STREET WORKER CONFERENCE HOSTED BY MERRIMACK VALLEY NONPROFIT UTEC, AND BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION. NORMALLY, THE STREET WORKERS WOULD BE OUT IN THE ELEMENTS LIKE THIS, WORKING TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. BUT TODAY, MORE THAN 300 ARE HERE AT GILLETTE STADIUM, SHARING STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE VIOLENCE. WE JUST SEE OURSELVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION. LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IMPORTANT. BUT STREET WORKERS AND FOLKS, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, INTERVENTIONISTS, SPECIALISTS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT. I WAS INCARCERATED FOR 22 YEARS. I CAME HOME, I WAS DOING THIS WORK BEHIND THE WALLS. SO LIKE I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT …