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Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recently announced the creation of the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), a new division that will bring together residents, community stakeholders, and county representatives to address critical issues regarding public safety and quality of life.
The office will develop and promote strategies to address the continuum of public safety including prevention, intervention, reentry, and neighborhood revitalization, and will support the successful implementation of the Peace and Prosperity Plan along with other proven anti-violence programs and strategies in collaboration with community partners.
“I’m so proud to launch the Office of Neighborhood Safety at a pivotal moment in the conversation about gun violence and public safety, to help reimagine our approach to reducing violence and poverty through crime prevention and community revitalization,” Mayor Levine Cava said.
“We know that we must engage our communities year-round, not only during crises, to really tackle violence and create long-lasting change in quality of life and peace and prosperity. And I’m confident we have the best team to deliver on this mission, with far-reaching experience and deep commitment to our community.”
Annika Holder will be the division director, Office of Neighborhood Safety.
Holder is an adopted Miamian originally from New York with extensive experience in public administration in New York, Atlanta and Miami-Dade County. Since last year she has been working as interim department director and formerly assistant director at Miami-Dade’s Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD). Previously, Holder has worked as assistant deputy commissioner of Educational Services for the Department of Social Services at the City of New York, and has led important departments at Parks and Recreation in Atlanta and New York. Holder holds her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from the City University of New York.
“I am thrilled and proud to lead this innovative work investing in safer neighborhoods across Miami-Dade alongside our extraordinary team,” Holder said. “Everyone deserves to live safe, healthy lives, and through the Office of Neighborhood Safety, we will deploy proven strategies and work hand-in-hand with community partners to make sure all communities have the resources and support they need to prevent violence and build prosperity.”
Other leading members of the division are: Chanel Jefferson, Legal and Policy Advisor; Juan Felipe Visser, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Manager, and Ira Thomas, Community Justice Manager.
