Youth Safety and Opportunity Collaborative (Y-SOC)

The Youth Safety and Opportunity Collaborative's (Y-SOC) mission is to guide and support the strategic implementation of our violence reduction plan, help shape priorities, identify barriers, and ensure that our work remains community-centered, evidence-based, and aligned with the needs of our young people and families.

Mission

Over the past three years, the City of Lynn has faced a youth violence crisis. While trends are improving, the City is taking proactive measures to address the root causes. Following a comprehensive study on violence through a state grant, Lynn has partnered with community stakeholders and Social Contract, a professional consulting team, to develop and launch the Lynn Community Violence Reduction Plan.

This work has reaffirmed what many of us already know: reducing youth violence requires coordinated action, strong partnerships, and shared leadership across sectors.

As we transition from planning to implementation, Mayor Nicholson is also launching a newly formed initiative: the Youth Safety & Opportunity Collaborative (Y-SOC).

This new leadership body brings together law enforcement, service providers, elected officials, and those with lived experience to:
- Realize our comprehensive Community Violence Reduction Plan
- Break silos between organizations to support families
- Ensure our work is community-centered and evidence-based
- Build a future where every young person in Lynn can thrive and have opportunities

The Youth Safety and Opportunity Collaborative's (Y-SOC) mission is to guide and support the strategic implementation of our violence reduction plan, help shape priorities, identify barriers, and ensure that our work remains community-centered, evidence-based, and aligned with the needs of our young people and families.

Contact

Faustina Cuevas
Chief of Wellbeing and DEI
[email protected]

Antonio Gutierrez
Chair of Y-SOC
[email protected]

Members of Y-SOC:

  • Chair of Y-SOC: Antonio Gutierrez, Lynn Youth Street Outreach Advocacy
  • Mayor’s Designee: Faustina Cuevas
  • Boys & Girls Club: Grace Duran
  • Lynn Police: Captain Tim Donovan
  • Lynn Community Health Center: Elaina Alias
  • Public Health: Abdel Kawaf
  • ROCA: Joe Furnari and Emily Fish
  • Children’s Friend and Family (Justice Resource Institute): Stephanie Rana
  • Lynn Public Schools: Virginia Leigh
  • North Shore Community College/Salem State University: Dr. Gina Curcio
  • Lynn District Court: Stacy Bryant Brown
  • City Council: Councilor Fred Hogan
  • Rep. Dan Cahill Designee: Schuyler Hogan
  • District Attorney Tucker Designee: Sharyn Lubas

Stay Informed

Residents are encouraged to register for the Y-SOC email list to stay informed on updates on ongoing work.

Links