What is NCYEI?
North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative (NCYEI) is a movement focused on creating a community where youth can thrive. Founded in 2018, we are driven by diverse community partners working together toward a common goal of infusing resources, building relationships and lifting up local leaders and their vision for positive change.
Our movement is driven by our love of community, our love for our residents, and our commitment to advocate and ignite change for safer outcomes for all.
Upcoming NCYEI & Community Events
NCYEI offers community events throughout the year. We also promote community-based events made possible by our community partners and local events aimed to benefit community residents. Click on the events below for details.
Be a part of healing
NCYEI is creating healthier communities by encouraging community members to play an active role in their neighborhood's healing. The program welcomes volunteers to participate in initiatives, events and outreach activities.
Creating healthier tomorrows, together
Our movement is driven by our love of community, our love for our residents, and our commitment to advocate and ignite change for better health outcomes for all. By working alongside our neighbors, partners and local law enforcement, NCYEI allows North Columbia citizens to play an active role in their communities’ transformation.
In North Columbia neighborhoods we are coming together for change:
NCYEI is proud to work alongside a diverse network of community stakeholders:
Community Organizations
Neighborhood Residents
Local Leaders
Local Businesses
Government Officials
Law Enforcement
Putting an end to gun violence
Reducing gun violence in our community
North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative was founded in 2018 in a joint effort by Serve & Connect and the City of Columbia Police Department to increase safety in our communities by addressing violence among at-risk youth to cultivate a community where they can thrive.
Thanks to this successful collaboration, Serve & Connect could apply for and receive a federal grant in 2021 to help fund evidence-based solutions for a community-driven approach to reducing gun violence.
This work will be designed and implemented with our police and community partners, who have been essential to this work since day one.
Read more about the grant and how Serve & Connect is working to create safer neighborhoods for all:
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-21-GG-04101-BCJI awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
A Proud Serve & Connect Compass Partner
North Columbia is proud to be a Serve & Connect Compass Partner Community. Serve & Connect is a statewide nonprofit organization helping communities foster positive change through sustainable police-community partnerships.