East of the River Clergy, Police, Community Partnership

Today we celebrate the amazing and necessary mothers on this planet. We appreciate moms and know we couldn’t be here without them. 💐

We also celebrate our incredible TRCEP partner, DM3, and the amazing work being done by Executive Director Crystal McNeal. Crystal took her pain and turned it into purpose, creating a mission that honors the life and legacy of her son while pouring love back into the community. Her strength, compassion, and dedication continue to impact so many families in meaningful ways.

This Mother’s Day, Crystal and the DM3 team blessed 20 women in the Frederick Douglass community with beautiful Mother’s Day baskets to remind mothers that they are seen, valued, and appreciated. 🌸🧺

We are beyond proud to stand beside Crystal as a TRCEP partner and applaud the healing work she continues to do every single day.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers. Your love holds communities together. 💕

Today, ERCPCP proudly supports the National Drug Take Back Day, an important reminder that community safety starts right at home. By encouraging the safe disposal of unused and expired medications, we are taking a proactive step toward preventing substance misuse, reducing accidental overdoses, and protecting our families and neighborhoods. This work is about more than just clearing out medicine cabinets, it’s about creating safer, healthier communities where prevention and care go hand in hand.

At ERCPCP, we remain committed to meeting our community where they are, bridging gaps between public safety and public health, and continuing the work of education, outreach, and healing. Thank you to everyone who showed up, participated, and helped make a difference today. Together, we are building stronger, safer communities, one action at a time.

On this Good Friday, we reflect on sacrifice, love, and the power of redemption. A reminder that even in our darkest moments, hope is never lost and healing is always possible. At ERCPCP, we remain committed to walking alongside our community, uplifting, supporting, and restoring through faith and action. Today, we honor the strength it takes to carry burdens and the grace it takes to release them.

May this day bring peace, reflection, and renewed purpose. ✝️

Closing out Women’s History Month by honoring a true powerhouse, the one and only, Kecia Barnes 💐. Your dedication to uplifting and empowering youth in our community does not go unnoticed. Through your leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment, you continue to create spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and inspired to thrive.

As Chief Operating Officer of ERCPCP, you lead with purpose and impact, helping to drive meaningful change where it matters most. Your work is a testament to what it means to serve, lead, and pour back into the community. Thank you for being a trailblazer, a mentor, and a force for good. The legacy you’re building is powerful and lasting.

Today, we mourn the loss of Jesse Jackson, a towering force for justice, equality, and human dignity. At age 84, he passed away peacefully surrounded by family, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped our nation. 

From his early days marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr., to founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and running groundbreaking presidential campaigns, Rev. Jackson dedicated his life to uplifting the oppressed and giving voice to the voiceless. 

He taught us to “Keep hope alive,” to fight for fairness at every turn, and to believe in a world where justice isn’t just a dream, I but a daily commitment. His work inspired millions and paved the way for future leaders. 

We honor a servant leader, an unwavering advocate, and a true champion of humanity. May his memory be a blessing and his vision continue to guide us. ✊🏾✨

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and the African American community is disproportionately impacted by heart-related conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

This isn’t just about statistics, it’s about our families, our elders, and our future.

🫀 Prioritizing heart health means:
• Managing blood pressure and stress
• Eating nourishing, heart-healthy foods
• Staying active in ways that feel good to your body
• Getting regular checkups and knowing your numbers

Taking care of your heart is an act of self-love, community care, and generational healing. This month, let’s commit to making heart health a priority, not just in February, but every day.

Because our hearts matter!

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Her groundbreaking collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published in 1773. Born in the Gambia and sold into slavery at just seven years old, Wheatley was brought to Boston, where her literary brilliance would eventually challenge the institution that bound her. She was emancipated shortly after her book’s release, securing her place as a trailblazer in Black literary history. ✊🏾📖

Today we celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and legacy of Black excellence that continues to shape our world. We honor trailblazers like Lucy Stanton, the first Black woman to earn a four-year college degree, who graduated from Oberlin College in 1850. Her courage and determination opened doors for generations to dream bigger, reach higher, and claim space where it was once denied.

Black history is not just history, it’s living, breathing, and still being written every day. We celebrate the past, uplift the present, and pour into the future. ✊🏾📚