While attention has focused on the efforts of police in driving down crime, some community groups have been working hard to make their neighborhoods safe, too. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

Members of Street Corner Resources were spreading their message Friday evening, telling people in Harlem, especially young people, to stay away from violence. 

The group is a part of the city's Cure Violence initiative.  

"Cure Violence is definitely needed. And it definitely works," said Iesha Sekou, founder of of Street Corner Resources. "And we engage the highest risk and make sure that they get the resources that they need in order to be successful and not use pulling a gun as a way to resolve conflict."

This week, the mayor and the NYPD reported that murders and shootings are down 17 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year. 

In the Harlem area where the Street Corner Resources team works, 137th to 145th streets between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. boulevards, there hasn't been a shooting in 278 days. 

Young people say the group is a positive influence to staying out of trouble. 

"Being involved with them, it helps me to learn how to just cut that off all the way, just stay away from it," said Justice Hudson of Street Corner Resources. "I know how to like analyze it better, to see when it's going to start and just prevent it, stay out of it."

The mayor and City Council fund 18 Cure Violence groups, and many have had success across the boroughs. 

Street Corner Resources offers self-defense instruction, peace summits and music classes. 

"Sometimes, they feel trapped or they feel, like, caught in the system, essentially, they have to be in the streets, sell drugs, stuff like that. So this is like, I just want to essentially show them there's another way," said Raymond Defense of Street Corner Resources.

People NY1 spoke with on Malcolm X Boulevard says they definitely feel a lot safer in there neighborhood than they did years ago.

"This has been labeled a crime area, and we are trying to change that. But we can only do it together," said Laverne Taylor, a Harlem resident.

"I know that as a youth growing up in this city, community centers were a pivotal part, played a pivotal part into keeping me out of trouble, keeping me focused and keeping me grounded into things that are important," said James Underwood, a Harlem resident.

Street Corner Resources says that's what it's all about.