James clark
VP, Division of Public Safety and Community Response, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
James R. Clark has served St. Louis as a thought leader for over 25 years. He is responsible for the design, implementation and oversight of the region’s most innovative programs including: The Serving Our Streets Initiative which provides direct resource delivery and stakeholder mobilization into 4 of St. Louis’ more challenged neighborhoods, where crime trending down. The Serving Our Streets Initiative utilizes a lens unique to social service. The Neighborhood, Porch, Living-room or N.P.L. The Serving Our Streets Initiative includes; direct household engagement, family assessment, resource delivery and neighborhood-based case management. Serving Our Streets directly addresses the expansive opioid crisis through Urban Opioid Triage. Through this groundbreaking model, weekly triage is set up in “open-air” drug markets. Citizens trapped in addiction are offered resources, health screening and an opportunity to enroll in treatment. Mr. Clark also developed the Urban Gun Violence De-Escalation Network. The Urban Gun Violence De-Escalation Network seeks 3rd party individuals with firsthand knowledge of a conflict with a trajectory towards gun violence. Violence Mediators work with the adversaries “circle of care” to de-escalate active conflicts. If a conflict cannot be resolved, a plan for “re-location” is established and activated. The De-escalation Center concept is being requested for replication in Wilmington, DE, Selma and Birmingham, AL, Lexington, KY, and Kansas City, MO. Clark was invited to present at the Federal Project Safe Neighborhood National Conference in 2019 where he received an award from the President of the United States. Pulpit to Porches Initiative. The mission of this progressive model is to empower neighborhoods by delivering resources to residents through churches located in the neighborhood. The Pulpit to Porches Program, also works to restore the Church to a position of neighborhood leadership. Over 210 neighborhood Churches in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and E. St. Louis are active. The Grill to Glory Project involves over 200 Churches who host weekly Saturday morning cook-outs to provide resources and fellowship to neighborhood residents. Clark also developed Operation: Clean Up – Build Up, formerly known as Clean Sweep. This neighborhood improvement targets vacant/abandoned properties that are beyond repair for demolition. Clean Up – Build Up, is a partnership between the Regional Business Council and several large and small minority owned construction companies.
Mr. Clark coordinated the Urban League’s COVID 19 response. Under his leadership and a partnership with Governor Mike Parson and National Guard over 100,000 citizens were vaccinated. Clark also played a key role in organizing 37 large scale food distribution events that fed over 75,000 families during the height of the pandemic.
Mr. Clark is regarded as a leading voice in America on the issue of neighborhood stabilization, gun violence and community organizing. Clark was born and raised in North St. Louis. He attended the St. Louis Public Schools and served in the United States Army. After his military service he attended Colorado State University. Clark served in the Mayor’s Office under Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. and participated in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1994. Mr. Clark has been featured on CNN, MSMBC, and the cover of TIME magazine.