Inclusive crime prevention: Expands reach across HRM
A growing community-based crime prevention initiative by Prescott Group is helping empower youth, adults with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations across the Halifax Regional Municipality and beyond through accessible education and peer-led leadership.
CRIME STOP: Sharing the Knowledge, led by Prescott Group’s Tegan Bielawski and Rafaela Muriel Alarcon, is the second phase of an inclusive crime prevention program made possible through Nova Scotia’s Crime Prevention Community Grants Program. Building on the success of the Inclusive Crime Prevention Initiative launched in 2024 under the Civil Forfeiture Grants program, the program delivers plain-language workshops focused on topics such as online safety, cyberbullying, and safety in the community.
Growing community reach
This year’s initiative was launched in three phases, beginning first voice facilitator development and mentorship opportunities in the fall. Since September, trained First Voice facilitators have been leading regular interactive workshops in schools, learning centres, care homes, and community organizations throughout the region.
The project originally aimed to deliver 10 community outreach presentations and reach 75 youth between April 2025 and June 2026. To date, the program has widely exceeded expectations, delivering 20 community presentations reaching more than 388 school-aged youth, along with 28 in-house sessions for youth and adults with disabilities! Four additional sessions are planned in the coming weeks, and will provide crime prevention learning to an additional 91 students.
Inclusive leadership approach
A key feature of the initiative is the inclusion of adults with disabilities in paid leadership and facilitation roles, helping challenge stereotypes while promoting self-advocacy and community connection.
“I have learned a lot from working on this project the last two years,” said facilitator and project leader Tegan Bielawski. “It has been fun to bring the information we researched to others and teach them about all the important crime prevention topics and ways to stay safe.”
“It has been fun to bring the information we researched to others and teach them about all the important crime prevention topics and ways to stay safe”
– Tegan Bielawski
Feedback from community partners has also been overwhelmingly positive. Tamara Peltekian, Schools Plus Community Outreach Worker, praised facilitators for delivering engaging and age-appropriate presentations on online safety and cyberbullying at Five Bridges Junior High School.
“The information was delivered in a way that was both meaningful and age-appropriate, and it sparked thoughtful discussion among the students,” Peltekian said, noting their strong commitment to continuing future sessions.
Program organizers say ongoing feedback and evaluation continue to shape the workshops, ensuring sessions remain interactive, inclusive, and responsive to community needs. With strong community support and growing demand, CRIME STOP: Sharing the Knowledge is expected to continue expanding throughout 2026, bringing accessible crime prevention education and peer-led leadership opportunities to even more communities across the region.
Thank you to our funding partner
This initiative was made possible through a grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice’s Crime Prevention Community Grants Program