| The Initiative Collective | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Initiative Collective | |
| Team Statistics | |
| Group | The Initiative Collective |
| Category | Public Service |
| Headquarters | (by branch) The following coordinate was not recognized: Geocoding failed.The following coordinate was not recognized: Geocoding failed. |
| Status | Active |
| Team Activity | |
| Leader | (by branch) |
| Members | * NYI (founding branch) * CAI: SF * CAI: Oakland * AZI * ILI * BMI * WAI * KSI * NCI * UKI Central * AUI |
| Allies | Legacy Initiative (Utah), Xtreme Justice League, United Earth Hopeforce |
| Foes | Apathy, Crime |
| Actions | Neighborhood watch, humanitarian outreach, safety education, volunteer services |
The Initiative Collective (often referred to as "The Initiative," "The ][C," or simply "The ][") is a coalition of several teams of Real Life Superheroes, based in different regions of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The founding chapter was the New York Initiative, after which different branches or "Initiatives" were established.
The Initiative Collective describes their mission as such:
"The Initiative is a grassroots group of volunteers who have banded together across states – and countries – to help empower people in their communities by any creative means necessary."[1]
Many members of the Initiative do not employ superhero-style gimmicks when on street patrol, and some employ them only online or at special events. Notable exceptions include the San Francisco, Oakland, SoCal, Illinois, and UKI Liverpool branches.
History
NYI
The New York Initiative was founded on October 3, 2009[2], as a collaborative effort by Zero (PA), Zimmer (TX), Lucid (PA), and TSAF (Detroit, MI), who had relocated to New York for the express purpose of combating violent crime there. This lineup of the NYI was featured in the Documentary "Superheroes" by Michael Barnett[3], which premiered in January of 2011 at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.[4]
VAI
The NYI opened up its first satellite branch, the Virginia Initiative, in June of 2011,[5] overseen by Ira Ui'Raghallaigh ("O'Reilly") and Deaths Head Moth. This also began the practice of actively abbreviating each new branch by its state abbreviation, followed by "I".
CAI
In August of 2011, established RLSH NightBug and Rock N Roll accepted Zero's offer of a branch, activating the third NYI offshoot: The California Initiative: San Francisco[6].
WAI
The Washington Initiative was founded in February of 2012 by Drop (fka "Bridges").[7][8]
CAI: Los Angeles
After an extended absence from the group he co-founded, former NYI member Lucid co-found the California Initiative: Los Angeles with Deimos in April of 2012[9], making it the second branch established in California. NYI member Short Cut also joined the CAI:LA for a time thereafter.
LAI
The first incarnation of the Louisiana Initiative was founded on June 12, 2012 by Captain Black, but folded after a few months[10]
AZI
The first incarnation of the Arizona Initiative was founded on July 10, 2012 by Justin Hackert, aka "Stitch Oz."[11]
COI
The Colorado Initiative was activated in July of 2012 by Venus Love and WhiteKnight.[12][13]
ILI
The Illinois Initiative was founded on February 11, 2013 by long-time RLSH Treesong.[14] An earlier, prototype incarnation of the ILI that was based in Chicago did not pan out, and some members of that team went on to form the Greater Chicagoland SuperHero Initiative, and later to P.A.T.C.H..
UKI London
Shipwreck (then going by "Joe London") founded the UKI London on April 29, 2013, making it the first international branch.[15]
TMI
The Tennessee Memphis Initiative was founded in July of 2013 by former California Initiative member, Thomas "Olde School" Strange[16], who was responsible for the creation and success of the California Initiative’s successful used needle pickup program.
T.R.I.B.E. and the "Hero Initiative" Split
Due to ongoing internal tension, the NYI separated itself from The Initiative Collective as a whole - and from superhero-style imagery altogether - in 2013, and began using the name "T.R.I.B.E.". The resulting schism drove the remaining branches to adopt the name "Hero Initiative", and NYI member Spectre to assume management of the New York branch. After nearly two years, amends with Zero were made in late 2015, leading all branches to reunite under the original "Initiative" banner while Zero went on to pursue other projects.
BMI
The Boston-Massachusetts Initiative was founded in April of 2016 by Olde School[17], leaving the TMI in the hands of Sweetie Pie.
The Ronin
In April of 2016, on-and-off-again NYI member Dark Guardian left to start his own team, the New York Ronin, which eventually branched out into several satellite groups around the United States.[18][19]
AZI Returns
On July 19, 2016, the Arizona Initiative is re-activated by Corveus and Luscinia,[20] focusing the group on self-defense and personal safety.
UKI/Central
Based in the Midlands, the villainous Lord Mole founded the United Kingdom/Central Initiative as the second UK-based branch in September of 2016.
CAI: Oakland/East Bay
NightBug and Rock N Roll opened the California Initiative: East Bay on June 11, 2017, making it the third California-based Initiative branch. They left the original SF branch in the hands of Shadarko.
AUI
Brisbane-based Storm Dragon founded the Australia Initiative on April 15, 2017.[21]
CAI: SoCal
Doctor Mystery founded the California Initiative: SoCal on August 22, 2017[22], making it the fourth branch to be founded in California. In April of 2023, the team became inactive after leader and sole remaining member Spectral Hawk withdrew his membership from the Collective. Since then, the team has been inactive.
UKI Liverpool
Established UK RLSH Knight Warrior founded the United Kingdom Initiative: Liverpool on May 18, 2018.[23]
KSI
Wichita-based Sky Knight founded the Kansas Initiative on October 3, 2019.[24]
NCI
The North Carolina Initiative and its branch leader, former RLSV Joshua Bartley, were announced on July 13, 2020.[25]
NYI Relaunch
Following the return of Zero (now known as D3V1L) in 2020, a new NYI team was launched. This iteration featured both a street patrol team, as well as a team of dedicated cyber investigators. In April of 2023, this new team announced they would be leaving the greater Initiative Collective.[26]
Gallery
References
- ↑ http://initiativecollective.com/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/ZeroNYI/posts/2626615317413496
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoTOhG9VwQc
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Slamdance_Film_Festival
- ↑ https://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com/2011/06/virginia-initiative.html
- ↑ http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com/2011/08/nyi-trial-by-mud.html
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/WAI.Seattle/about/
- ↑ https://citylivingseattle.com/Content/News/City-News/Article/Working-with-the-homeless-Real-life-superheroes-/22/167/89044
- ↑ http://cailosangeles.wixsite.com/caila/about
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/InitiativeCollective/posts/124360187702064
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/ZeroNYI/posts/340257782715939
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/ZeroNYI/posts/346802732061444
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/InitiativeCollective/posts/413829811996807
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/IllinoisInitiative/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/UkiLondon/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/TMInitiative/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/BMInitiative/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkInitiativeNYI/posts/565555263618213
- ↑ https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-york-citys-real-life-superhero-civil-war
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/AZInitiative/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/AUInitiative/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/CAISoCal/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/UKInitiativeLiverpool/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pg/KSInitiative/about/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/InitiativeCollective/posts/3244091802303913
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CqtEVQAJ0GO/
External Links
