Rufus J. Faulk D. LP
Boston
Summary
Dynamic policy advisor and educator with a proven track record at the City of Boston, specializing in public safety and community engagement. Expert in policy writing and stakeholder engagement, I successfully developed violence intervention strategies and led diversity training initiatives, fostering impactful community partnerships and enhancing public health outcomes.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Adjunct Professor, Social Science
Roxbury Community College
Boston
09.2023 - Current
- Adjunct professor within Roxbury Community College’s Social Science department, teaching History of Roxbury, Black Studies, Principles of Political Science, and United States Government and Politics.
- I developed a new honors colloquium titled "Social Movements in the 1960s," which explores pivotal movements and their impact on American society.
Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor Michelle Wu
City of Boston
Boston
11.2021 - 02.2023
- Served as Mayor Michelle Wu’s Senior Policy Advisor on issues of public safety, public health, DEI, housing, and community engagement.
- Served as the subject matter expert in areas of youth violence, public education and youth development.
- Responsible for developing and implementing the city of Boston’s public safety and violence intervention strategies.
- Advised Mayor Wu during a $50 million dollar investment to upgrade the housing stock within the Boston Housing Authority.
- Established policies, a streamlined process, and guidance to Mayor Wu regarding the selection of the City of Boston’s first ever Police Civilian Review Board, Human Services’ Cabinet, and Boston Public Health Commission.
- Delivered guidance and assessment for Boston Police Department’s Commissioner search committee.
- In collaboration with the Boston Public Health Commission, built the City of Boston’s violence intervention, prevention, and recovery framework.
- Developed the policy for the City of Boston’s alternative response to the mental health crisis.
- Built the City of Boston’s inaugural Community Ambassadors’ Program.
- Lead and facilitate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and dialogue.
- Served as Chair of the steering committee for the Mayor’s Office of Black Men’s Advancement.
- A part of the senior development team responsible for the announced $60 million community center in Boston’s Grove Hall neighborhood.
- Member of the City of Boston’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion cabinet team.
Director of Public Safety
Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, City of Boston
Boston
05.2019 - 11.2021
- Developed, studied, and implemented violence intervention and prevention policies, strategies and framework for city of Boston departments, agencies, and external partners.
- Responsible for the coordination and development of external partnerships with community-based organizations centered on the strategic implementation of the mayor’s violence prevention plan and community outreach initiatives.
- Served as the Mayor’s contextual and policy expert on matters of public safety, community engagement, and neighborhood development.
- Managed a $1-million-dollar Covid Recovery Violence Prevention Grant.
- Oversaw the daily operations of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety as well as the Office of Returning Citizens, which is a total staff of eleven and a budget of $2.6 million dollars.
- Served within the Mayor’s Leadership Team and led the City’s Violence prevention response during the Covid19 pandemic.
- Founding advisory board member of the City of Boston’s Black Boys & Men Commission.
- Supported educational initiatives of Boston Public Schools as well as the racial equity initiatives within the Office of Equity.
- Managed the City of Boston’s $1.5-million-dollar Youth Development Fund for support of Boston’s non-profit youth serving agencies.
- Managed the City of Boston’ Operation Exit program, a workforce development and building trades initiative designed for Boston residents impacted by the criminal justice system.
- Served under former Mayors Martin Walsh and Kim Janey.
Director of Victim Services
Massachusetts Department of Corrections
Concord
09.2018 - 05.2019
- The Massachusetts Department of Corrections Victim Services Unit is responsible for providing information, timely notification and support to victims of crime and other concerned individuals.
- As the Unit’s Director I am responsible for managing four program victim advocates, who are responsible for administering these notifications.
- The VSU averages 350 notifications a month, informing petitioners of changes in custody, transfers, parole and an inmate’s death.
- As Director I am also a member of the DOC’s classifications division and serve as the department’s liaison to community groups and victim advocates.
Program Director
Boston Ten Point Coalition
Boston
09.2012 - 08.2017
- Responsible for the design, to supervise, and implement the Boston Ten Point Coalition’s Community Cluster and Violence Prevention Strategies.
- A strategy implemented within the Martin Luther King Boulevard section of Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood.
- Managed staff of 5, including two program coordinators, to fulfill the mission of the Boston Ten Point Coalition.
- Responsible for resource development and the facilitation of community needs assessments around housing and employment.
- Managed the relationships between Boston Ten Point Coalition’s community partners, city and state agencies and service providers.
- A total of 95 community stakeholders were listed as partners of BTPC and it was my responsibility to ensure that these mutually beneficial relationships were maintained.
- Responsible for creating the organizational budget for all programming and special events.
- BTPC’s 2017 budget was $690,000.
- Responsible for the proposal process and the management of grant along with the resulting reporting and presentations.
- Responsible for development and initiating of the Boston TenPoint Coalition’s youth violence reduction plan targeting some of Boston’s most proven risk adolescent and young adults.
- Member of BPD’s Social Justice Task Force.
Gang Mediation Director
Boston Ten Point Coalition
Boston
07.2008 - 10.2012
- Responsible for engaging and providing resources for gang involved young men and women between the ages of 14-25.
- Supervised and supported 4 full time youth outreach workers and developed conflict resolution programming to be implemented in schools and juvenile locked facilities.
- Negotiated and developed gang mediation and ceasefire strategies with conflicting gang involved youth with the support of the Boston Police Department and local clergy.
- Responsible for creating Gang Mediation’s budget and Boston Ten Point Coalition’s community outreach approach.
- Member of the Policy Institutes Stop and Frisk project in Washington D.C.
METCO School Coordinator
Newton South High School
Newton
11.2006 - 07.2008
- Responsible for tutoring Newton South’s METCO student population in the subjects of History, Mathematics and English.
- Responsible for aiding METCO Coordinator in the execution of core curriculum, extra curricula activities and the social and emotional health of our student population.
Second Chance/ Adopt-A-School Coordinator
Boston Ten Point Coalition
Boston
08.2005 - 06.2008
- Responsible for engaging at-risk youth within Boston Public School’s Middle School network.
- Responsible for engaging high-risk and at-risk young men incarcerated in Department Youth of Service’s facilities in Massachusetts.
- Built individual transition plans for young men to initiate upon their release and reintroduction to their communities.
- Responsible for building partnerships with local employers to create employment opportunities for young men and women living in high-risk communities.
Fellowship
The Senate Office of John Kerry
Boston
06.2004 - 08.2004
- Served as a fellow under the tutelage of Senator John F. Kerry’s Senior Policy Education Advisor Joan Wasser Gish.
- Researched various education policies and programs corresponded with constituents regarding their educational issues and questions.
- Participated in the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, MA.
Education
Doctorate - Law & Policy
Northeastern University
Boston, MassachusettsMaster of Arts - Urban Affairs
Boston University
Boston, MassachusettsBachelor of Arts - History; Minor, Business Administration
Temple University
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSkills
- Policy writing
- Curriculum development
- Public speaking
- Data analysis
- Community organizing
- Political advocacy
- Program management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Diversity training
- Team leadership
- Multimedia integration
- Industry partnerships
- Effective communication
Professional Associations
- No Books No Ball, Inc., Boston, MA, Volunteer Coach and Student Mentor, 10/01/12, Present
- Temple University Boston Alumni Chapter, Boston, MA, Chair, 09/01/14, Present
- The Boston Police Athletic League, Boston, MA, Member of the Board of Directors, 01/01/20, Present
- The Roxbury YMCA, Boston, MA, Member of the Board of Directors, 01/01/21, 01/01/2023
Timeline
Adjunct Professor, Social Science
Roxbury Community College
09.2023 - Current
Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor Michelle Wu
City of Boston
11.2021 - 02.2023
Director of Public Safety
Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, City of Boston
05.2019 - 11.2021
Director of Victim Services
Massachusetts Department of Corrections
09.2018 - 05.2019
Program Director
Boston Ten Point Coalition
09.2012 - 08.2017
Gang Mediation Director
Boston Ten Point Coalition
07.2008 - 10.2012
METCO School Coordinator
Newton South High School
11.2006 - 07.2008
Second Chance/ Adopt-A-School Coordinator
Boston Ten Point Coalition
08.2005 - 06.2008
Fellowship
The Senate Office of John Kerry
06.2004 - 08.2004
Doctorate - Law & Policy
Northeastern University
Master of Arts - Urban Affairs
Boston University
Bachelor of Arts - History; Minor, Business Administration
Temple University