Sasha Cotton is the Executive Director of the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she leads national efforts to reduce violence and strengthen public safety through evidence-informed strategies and partnerships among communities, government agencies, and law enforcement. Over the course of her career, Cotton has held leadership
Koren Gaines is the Managing Director of the National Network for Safe Communities. She provides oversight for all operational and development and supports strategic direction. Previously, as Chief Operating Officer at New York Peace Institute, Koren led the nation’s largest community dispute resolution center. During this time, she oversaw the conflict resolution and training programs
David M. Kennedy is the Chair of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay. He is also a Professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Mr. Kennedy and the National Network support cities implementing strategic interventions to reduce violence, minimize arrest and incarceration, enhance police
Isabel Lopez is the Director of Community Violence & Partnerships at the National Network for Safe Communities. Prior to joining the National Network, Lopez served as Project Manager for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where she played an integral role in the successful implementation of Group Violence Intervention efforts in the City of Newburgh. In
Laurie Owen is the Director of Law Enforcement and Public Safety Partnerships at the National Network for Safe Communities. Laurie serves as NNSC’s national lead on how law enforcement and justice system partners engage in violence reduction. In this role, she provides technical assistance, training, and strategic guidance to agencies across the country, ensuring their approaches are effective,
Fatma Zahra is the Director of Intimate Partner Violence Strategies at The National Network for Safe Communities. She brings extensive knowledge and experience to guide work on issues related to domestic and sexual violence. Prior to this role as Director, Fatma was the Associate Director of the Intimate Partner Violence Intervention, Associate Director of Programs, and Deputy Director