Community Outreach Partnerships

Fugitive Safe Surrender (Community Re-Entry)
Fugitive Safe Surrender is a new, first-of-its-kind, faith-based initiative led nationally by the U.S. Marshals Service that encourages persons wanted for felony crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting. FSS is the vision of Peter J. Elliott, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio who as leader of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has overseen the capture of more than 5,000 fugitives since 2003.

Fugitive Safe Surrender does not offer amnesty in exchange for surrender; rather, it offers a first step toward a second chance, in the form of favorable consideration from prosecutors and the court, for individuals who want to re-enter the mainstream of their communities. FSS was successfully piloted at Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Cleveland in August of 2005. Under the leadership of Mount Sinai's Senior Pastor, Dr. C. Jay Matthews, 850 persons surrendered in four days - approximately 280 wanted for felony crimes.

DC Strategic Partners, LLC in now partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service to lead the expansion of this cutting-edge initiative across the nation.

People of the Way Ministries
People of the Way Ministries was formed nine years ago and it’s members consist of about thirty five volunteers from about 8 different churches including Mount Sinai Baptist Church.

The ministry take the word of God to males, females and youth in correctional institution. We attempt to supply them with emergency help when they are released. We help them with finding housing, food, clothing, birth certificates, state IDs, spiritual counseling, mentoring and prayer.

Other programs provided by People of the Way Ministries are the Christmas Food Baskets, Toys for Tots Program, Operation Safe Passage (arranging safe passage for males and females who have outstanding warrants), Baptizing male and female inmates incarcerated at the Cleveland House of Corrections, conducting marriages for inmates at state prison facilities, Visit Mount Sinai members or their relatives that find themselves incarcerated in greater Cleveland Jails.

Prior Community Outreach Partnerships

Northern Ohio Elder Protection Training Council (Safeguarding Seniors)
Launched in October 2004, NOEPTC is a new alliance of more than 25 government, healthcare, academic, faith-based and nonprofit institutions across northern Ohio. Its mission is to train front-line law enforcement (local, state and federal), prosecutors and court personnel on best practices in the recognition, investigation, arrest and successful prosecution of elder abuse and fraud. NOEPTC is funded by a $300,000 grant and will conduct four, large-scale training in Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and Youngstown over the next two years. More than 1,000 criminal justice personnel from participating agencies have committed to attend, and hundreds more are expected.

Stand Together Against Firearm Felons (STAFF)
Launched in June 2003, STAFF is a new, faith-based empowerment program that organizes, informs and empowers gun violence victims and impacted communities to pursue justice in the criminal justice system. In coordination with Project ChildSafe, STAFF is also be responsible for the distribution of thousands of gun safety kits - including cable-style gun locks - to gun owners in 2004-2005. STAFF is funded as part of a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Old School Boxing Club (Gang-Free Communities)
Launched in October 2004, the nonprofit Old School Boxing Club in Cleveland proactively combats delinquency and juvenile gang activity through an after-school/summer school program that empowers the mind, body and spirit of at-risk youth. Old School provides up to forty children each week with boxing skills and physical fitness training from experienced staff. It also provides academic tutoring from undergraduate teaching students at Case Western Reserve University, and faith-based mentoring from Mt. Sinai Ministries in Cleveland. Old School is growing in national prominence: two of its young boxers competed in the 2003 United States Olympic Trials, both boxers reached the finals, and one became a member of the U.S. Olympic Team.