Mayor Bowser Awards $9.2M for Safe Passage Program to Keep Students Safe as They Travel to and from School

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ) announced that four community-based organizations were awarded $9.2 million for the Fiscal Year 2026 Safe Passage, Safe Blocks program. The Safe Passage program places ambassadors along more than 129 pre-determined routes to support students as they travel to and from school.

"We need our kids coming to school every day ready to learn, and Safe Passage is one of the best tools we have to make that happen; Safe Passage teams help our students keep their focus where it needs to be - on their education," said Mayor Bowser. "By helping students feel safe traveling to and from school, our Safe Passage teams encourage regular attendance and offer a steady, supportive presence in our communities."

Safe Passage provides monitoring and impactful engagement services to routes and Metro stops in 12 priority areas: Anacostia, Brookland, Columbia Heights, Congress Heights, Eastern/Stadium Armory, Fort Totten, L'Enfant Plaza, Minnesota Avenue, NoMa, Petworth/Brightwood, Potomac Avenue, and Tenleytown.

Safe Passage consists of several components, including:

• Overseeing student commute routes within designated priority areas.
• Collaborating with schools, District agency staff, other Safe Passage teams, and the local community to identify, intervene, de-escalate, and report incidents of community violence.
• Promoting consistent attendance by encouraging students to attend classes daily and on time.
• Engaging with students, families, businesses, civic associations, institutional facilities, and community members in the priority areas to foster support for the Safe Passage program.
• Ensuring staff suitability and active participation in all training and technical assistance programs.
• Gathering and analyzing program data to identify trends and ensure effective program implementation.

"Our Safe Passage Ambassadors are more than just a presence in the neighborhood, they're a bridge between students, schools, and the community," said Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah. "By building trust and offering consistent support, Safe Passage Ambassadors ensure our students not only feel safe, but also seen, valued, and ready to succeed every day."

The grantees and priority area assignments for Fiscal Year 2026 are:

Residents and students can spot Safe Passage Ambassadors throughout the community with their recognizable green vests. For more information, visit safepassage.dc.gov.

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