A groundbreaking partnership between Urban Hope NYC, local clergy, and the New York Police Department is transforming Staten Island one block at a time.
What began as a bold pilot program in 2024 has now become a full-scale initiative. With support from NYPD precinct leadership and under the vision of Urban Hope President Pastor David Beidel, the movement is entering its second year with expanded sites, deeper coordination, and a clear goal: reduce violence, build trust, and saturate the most at-risk neighborhoods with hope.
At the center of the field operations is Chad McVann, Pastor and Director of Urban Hope NYC’s street-level outreach. He has been leading the charge on the ground, organizing clergy, coordinating volunteers, and managing the infrastructure required to keep sixty days of continuous summer outreach running across five high-need locations.
Five Neighborhoods, One Mission
“We’re doing something very ambitious,” McVann explained. “Five of the most violent neighborhoods in Staten Island have been selected by the NYPD based on actual crime data. This is not just where the churches want to go. It’s where the data shows we need to be.”
The neighborhoods include Stapleton, Mariners Harbor, West Brighton, Park Hill, and Richmond Terrace. Urban Hope teams are present Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for nearly two full months.
The NYPD plays a crucial role by blocking off streets and creating safe zones for ministry teams, youth programming, and neighborhood engagement. “The police and clergy are usually the first two responders when a crisis hits,” McVann said. “But historically, there has been a divide between those two worlds. This initiative is bringing them together, working side by side.”
Urban Hope’s Summer Streets Program
What sets this initiative apart is not just the collaboration, but the scale. McVann oversees a rotating lineup of outreach elements that he affectionately calls the Urban Hope Circus. It includes bounce houses, face painting, cotton candy, popcorn, and inflatable games. These draw the crowds, but the deeper mission runs far beyond fun.
“We’re not just entertaining kids,” McVann said. “We’re anchoring each site with clergy teams and nonprofits, giving them Christian books, tents, crayons, games, and the space to build lasting relationships. It’s about eight hours of presence every day, and that’s where transformation begins.”
Each three-day carnival-style push is part of a broader Monday through Friday saturation strategy. It includes prayer, relationship-building, and Gospel-centered programming designed to teach biblical truths in fun and meaningful ways.
The Results Are In
According to NYPD statistics, 2022 saw a spike in violent crime across Staten Island, with fifteen homicides concentrated in Park Hill and Stapleton. In 2023, after the clergy and Urban Hope launched coordinated prayer walks and daily neighborhood engagement, the number dropped to zero.
“That’s the power of Jesus Christ,” McVann said. “Yes, it’s a partnership with politicians, police, and clergy, but it’s really the Spirit of God pushing back darkness.”
He also credited the foundation of the strategy to Pastor David Beidel. “Full credit to Pastor David for bringing everyone to the table, including the borough president, the NYPD, and community leaders. Full credit to the Urban Hope team for carrying out that vision. This works because we’re all on the same page.”
Volunteers From Across the Country
This summer, Urban Hope is powered by local believers, staff members, and short-term mission teams from across the country. “We’ve got churches from Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, and Seacoast Church in South Carolina sending youth teams,” McVann said. “To have that many groups come out of one church in one year is a godsend.”
The ratio of volunteers to kids is intentionally high, often one to one or one to two. “That creates meaningful connection,” McVann said. “Kids feel valued, seen, and loved. That’s when hearts open to the Gospel.”
What’s Ahead for 2025
The summer campaign launched in early July, with a kickoff that rotated through all five sites. Park Hill launched on Monday, followed by Mariners Harbor on Tuesday, Richmond Terrace on Wednesday, and Stapleton on Thursday. West Brighton wraps up the first rotation on the Fourth of July with a fireworks celebration.
The following weeks are dedicated to outreach prep, supply distribution, door-knocking, and prayer walks. After that, the structured Monday through Friday programming begins in full, with summer streets programming that includes biblical teaching, games, and discipleship through fun, relational interaction.
A Call to the Church
McVann closed with a challenge for believers across the nation. “You might feel fear or anxiety when stepping into a neighborhood like this. But that fear is not from God. There are hundreds of people praying the same prayer you are, hoping for peace in their city. They just need someone to help bring it together.”
He added, “That’s what I love about Jesus Week. It’s a galvanizing platform. It brings people, churches, nonprofits, and city leaders together. And it works. Staten Island went from thirteen homicides to zero. That is not just partnership. That is the power of Jesus Christ. And that can happen in your community too.”
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