JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office has awarded Pastor Korey O’Neal, program director of Project RISE, with the 2024 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, recognizing sustained collaboration between community leadership and law enforcement aimed at reducing violent crime and gang activity across North Florida.
Federal officials cited Pastor O’Neal’s role in bridging trust gaps between at-risk communities and law enforcement, noting that his work has focused on prevention rather than reaction. Through structured outreach, direct engagement with families, and long-term support strategies, Project RISE has become a central component of a broader violence-reduction framework operating in the region.
Since 2021, the FBI Jacksonville Safe Streets Task Force has partnered with Project RISE, local law enforcement agencies, and health-focused community organizations as part of a proactive approach to addressing violent crime before it escalates. The strategy prioritizes early intervention with youth identified as being at elevated risk for gang involvement or repeat criminal exposure, particularly within underserved neighborhoods.
One of the most visible initiatives tied to the partnership is known informally as “The Hope and the Hammer.” The program involves coordinated, in-person visits to households where individuals are assessed as being at risk of entering violent crime pathways. These visits include both law enforcement representatives and community advocates, creating a dual-message approach that combines accountability with opportunity.
During these engagements, families are presented with alternatives to incarceration and gang affiliation, alongside access to practical resources. Through Project RISE, assistance is tailored to individual needs and may include job placement support, educational pathways, medical and mental health services, substance abuse rehabilitation, financial assistance, legal aid, tattoo removal, and connections to community and faith-based support networks. The goal, according to officials involved, is to reduce the structural pressures that often funnel young people toward violent outcomes.
Pastor O’Neal has emphasized impact over recognition, framing his work as legacy-driven rather than symbolic. Law enforcement officials echoed that sentiment, stating that measurable outcomes — reduced risk exposure, sustained engagement, and long-term community trust — are the true benchmarks of success.
The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, established in 1990, is presented annually by FBI field offices nationwide to individuals or organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to crime prevention and community safety. The Jacksonville Field Office has previously recognized a range of local leaders and institutions for similar contributions, reflecting a continued emphasis on partnership-driven public safety models.
Federal authorities noted that community-based prevention programs are increasingly viewed as critical complements to enforcement operations, particularly in addressing cycles of violence that traditional policing alone cannot resolve. The recognition of Pastor O’Neal underscores an approach centered on early intervention, shared responsibility, and sustained engagement as tools for long-term crime reduction.
🔥 NOW AVAILABLE! 🔥
🔥 NOW AVAILABLE! 🔥
📖 INK & FIRE: BOOK 1 📖
A bold and unapologetic collection of poetry that ignites the soul. Ink & Fire dives deep into raw emotions, truth, and the human experience—unfiltered and untamed
🔥 Kindle Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/9EoGKzh
🔥 Paperback 👉 https://a.co/d/9EoGKzh
🔥 Hardcover Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/0ITmDIB
🔥 NOW AVAILABLE! 🔥
📖 INK & FIRE: BOOK 2 📖
A bold and unapologetic collection of poetry that ignites the soul. Ink & Fire dives deep into raw emotions, truth, and the human experience—unfiltered and untamed just like the first one.
🔥 Kindle Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/1xlx7J2
🔥 Paperback 👉 https://a.co/d/a7vFHN6
🔥 Hardcover Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/efhu1ON
Get your copy today and experience poetry like never before. #InkAndFire #PoetryUnleashed #FuelTheFire
🚨 NOW AVAILABLE! 🚨
📖 THE INEVITABLE: THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA 📖
A powerful, eye-opening read that challenges the status quo and explores the future unfolding before us. Dive into a journey of truth, change, and the forces shaping our world.
🔥 Kindle Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/0FzX6MH
🔥 Paperback 👉 https://a.co/d/2IsxLof
🔥 Hardcover Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/bz01raP
Get your copy today and be part of the new era. #TheInevitable #TruthUnveiled #NewEra
🚀 NOW AVAILABLE! 🚀
📖 THE FORGOTTEN OUTPOST 📖
The Cold War Moon Base They Swore Never Existed
What if the moon landing was just the cover story?
Dive into the boldest investigation The Realist Juggernaut has ever published—featuring declassified files, ghost missions, whistleblower testimony, and black-budget secrets buried in lunar dust.
🔥 Kindle Edition 👉 https://a.co/d/2Mu03Iu
🛸 Paperback Coming Soon
Discover the base they never wanted you to find. TheForgottenOutpost #RealistJuggernaut #MoonBaseTruth #ColdWarSecrets #Declassified
Sponsored • TRJ Ads
Inquiries: contact@therealistjuggernaut.com
This is such an encouraging story, thank you for sharing it. I will be adding Pastor O’NEILL to my prayers, we need more people like him .
Thank you very much, Julie — I’m really glad this story encouraged you. Pastor O’Neal’s work is a reminder of how powerful genuine compassion and consistency can be at the community level. We absolutely need more people willing to step up like that. I appreciate you reading and sharing your thoughts, and I know your prayers will mean a great deal. 😎
“Through Project RISE, assistance is tailored to individual needs and may include job placement support, educational pathways, medical and mental health services, substance abuse rehabilitation, financial assistance, legal aid, tattoo removal, and connections to community and faith-based support networks. The goal, according to officials involved, is to reduce the structural pressures that often funnel young people toward violent outcomes.”
“Federal officials cited Pastor O’Neal’s role in bridging trust gaps between at-risk communities and law enforcement, noting that his work has focused on prevention rather than reaction.”
Congratulations to Pastor O’Neal. It is God’s mandate to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. The message of the Gospel is very important. At the same time, helping people with the things mentioned in the quote above show the kind of concern that God wants us to have for our neighbors. Preaching the Gospel and helping our neighbors go hand in hand. A man who does both is a man who is usually very humble and deserving of recognition. May God bless him and his family!
Thank you for this article!
You’re very welcome, Chris — that’s very well said. You captured the balance at the heart of this recognition. Prevention that’s rooted in genuine care, trust, and service doesn’t compete with faith; it reflects it. Addressing real-world needs while offering guidance and hope is how lasting change takes hold, especially in communities that have often only seen intervention after harm has already occurred. Pastor O’Neal’s work stands out precisely because it’s relational, humble, and consistent. Thanks again, Chris. I appreciate you taking the time to engage so thoughtfully with the piece. Blessings to you as well. 😎
“…service doesn’t compete with faith.”
Amen to that, John. Thank you for your thoughtful response and it would be great if there were many more stories like this. This is the kind of help society needs.
Thank you for your kind words and I hope you have a great day!