Peace, Love & Light,
Don't be discouraged! Creating spaces for deescalation is in alignment with what would be considered the new wave of "Best Practices" for positive youth and community development. Like others have said on this thread, take time to engage and market the benefits of what you are doing to the community. I would suggest starting with resident council presidents and getting on their monthly meeting schedule. Go to other community events and give demonstrations. The school social workers, mental health specialists and the PTA are also excellent resources. The first stage of any initiative is building a safe and brave space which starts with trust. This takes a little time to build and know that it's a step that cannot be skipped. Feel free to reach out; I may know people that can help in your area.
