Operation S.N.U.G. (“guns” spelled backwards) is a multi-faceted, community empowerment
and youth development approach in response to the increase in gun and gang violence by youth
and young adults throughout New York State. The project is being sponsored tri-laterally by
Congress, the NYS Senate & Assembly and the NYC Council. Operation S.N.U.G. was
authorized by NYS Senate Minority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and is being developed by
various sub-committees that have been established to provide services to at-risk, gang involved
and out of school youth. It offers a variety of alternatives to violence and incarceration. The
programs, services and activities outlined in this model will be supported by Governor David
Paterson, Congressmen Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks, NYS Senators Malcolm Smith,
Eric Adams, Bill Perkins, Ruth Hassell-Thompson and John Sabini, Assemblymen Keith
Wright, Herman D. Farrell, Jr. and Darryl Towns, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn,
City Council members Inez Dickens and John Liu and a host of other elected officials. There is
also support from Microsoft, the NYC Housing Authority, the United Nations, Celebrities, the
Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, Business and Community leaders. Through private
partnerships, political support, the expertise of social service providers and committed
professionals interested in working with our youth we are prepared to address the “Root Causes”
of Gun and Gang Violence.
The program and administrative offices of S.N.U.G. will be centrally located in what is being
referred to as “the Bunker”, a rehabilitated, double brownstone located at 155 and 157 West
126th Street, directly across the street from the Harlem State Office building. This structure will
allow for the provision and coordination of programs and services throughout the entire state of
New York, including the five boroughs of NYC. The S.N.U.G. administrative service site will
offer a full range of programs, all of which will be managed by our fully staffed program
management team.
Services such as case management, mentoring, anger management, anti-aggressive therapy,
individual and family counseling, educational and vocational training, drug and alcohol
counseling, entitlements assistance, parenting skills, entrepreneurship, music, film and
entertainment industry consultation, the law and technical assistance will be offered. These
services will be coordinated by our own staff of case managers, who will conduct intakes and
assessments as well as psycho-social evaluations. Case managers will also offer support services
such as skills building, conflict resolution, educational and vocational training, recreation,
workforce development, job readiness, training and much, much more in a safe space.

Below is a very condensed version of the Operation S.N.U.G mission, goals, media campaign,
Youth Summit and brief overview of the True Colors Community Initiative. A full version of
S.N.U.G. is available upon request.

The mission of Operation S.N.U.G. is to address the root causes of youth violence and develop
and implement viable solutions to address problems that continue to have a detrimental effect on
our communities and their youth.

1. To introduce an agenda for reducing and stopping gun and gang violence among our
youth and young adults
2. To introduce the True Colors Community Initiative, a community-wide gang-intervention
and youth empowerment project to reverse the school-to-prison pipeline and stop mass
incarceration in communities of color
3. To peacefully bring together youth - particularly members of prominent street gangs - for
updates, discussion and dialogue around gangs and gang violence
4. To raise awareness among gang-involved or affiliated youth/young adults about the
impact of gang violence on self, friends, families and communities
5. To provide alternatives and resources on disengagement, neutralization and prevention
for gang-involved youth interested in getting out
6. To provide a forum for young people to voice their concerns, opinions and suggestions
regarding issues that affect their lives
7. To generate positive, substantial and sustainable next steps for developing leadership
among this constituency
a. Example 1: introduce True Colors Academy (a leadership development academy
for gang-involved youth) and get gang members interested in applying to the
Academy
b. Example 2: announce a follow-up event, Breaking Bread with Truth – an event
that is positive, youth-only, safe and designed specifically for artistic, creative
and cultural (hip-hop) expression
8. To work with the Hip-Hop Industry and solicit the support of artists, record companies,
radio, MTV and BET to deliver a positive message to youth, as well as reinforce the
purpose and goals of the committee
9. To promote coordination among service providers and other support systems throughout
NYC and NYS to eliminate duplication and foster resource development
10. To expand to other cities facing similar problems

The True Colors Initiative is comprised of a series of community forums and street level
community education programs designed to bring gang involved youth together to discuss problems
and solutions specifically related to public safety, crime and violence reduction, and prevention.

Our media, public education and outreach strategy will revolve around a series of YOUTH
SUMMITS as outlined below in Schools, Community and Public Housing Centers:
1. Events will be 2-3 hours in length
2. Moderators will introduce the Guest Speakers and issues to the audience for discussion
3. Media broadcasting of events via the Internet and other outlets
4. Literature dissemination to support the issues and movement
5. Question & Answer Period
6. Voter Registration Booths will be set up
7. Press Releases to keep the public informed about the progress of the events
8. Each event will be videotaped for the release of a DVD and/or online airing
9. Close out with remarks and assignments for community improvement

MISSION
To implement a host of activities with celebrities and the media to increase Public
Awareness, mainly among our youth and young adults, about the dangers and
consequences of Gun and Gang Violence.