Youth Court opens its doors to the community!

This past week, the Brownsville Youth Court hosted an open house for prospective members and to introduce our neighbors and community stakeholders to the program. More than 20 community members, representatives from agencies, and students were in attendance. Program Coordinator, Sharese Crouther opened the event with an overview of the program, referral process, and benefits of youth court membership. Visitors then had the chance to observe a real youth court hearing and the evening was rounded out with a question and answer session with current youth court members and staff. Each member shared their reasons for joining the Brownsville Youth Court, skills they have gained since joining, and future career goals. All eleven graduating senior members shared their college plans for the fall, which were each met with rounds of applause from the audience!

The deadline to apply to join the Brownsville Youth Court is April 10^th. We look forward to inducting new members into our 5^th cohort and continuing to spread awareness about youth court to the community.     

Check out photos from the event.


Program Coordinator, Sharese Crouther delivers opening remarks. 



 Youth Court member, Deborah shares her perspective about  Youth Court. 




Brownsville Youth Court Promoting Healthy Eating!

Youth Court members boxing hot meals for the community.

In observance of National Nutrition Month, the Brownsville Youth Court volunteered in help deliver nutritious meals to the Brownsville community. The National Nutrition Month theme for 2013 is “Eat Right, Your Way, and Every Day.” This theme encourages personalized healthy eating styles. It also recognizes that food preferences, lifestyle, cultural and ethnic traditions all impact individual food choices.

Over the past two Saturdays, the Youth Court members volunteered at the Hope Center Development Corporation soup kitchen and food pantry. At the soup kitchen, they helped serve hot, healthy, and balanced meals to over 300 people in the community.

  

Apply to join the Brownsville Justice Community program TODAY!

Apply to join the Brownsville Justice Community program TODAY!

The Brownsville Justice Community is a project of Mayor Bloomberg's Young Men's Initiative that strives to help young people achieve their professional, educational, and personal goals. Our hope is that by participating in community benefit projects and receiving educational support and career development assistance, members of the program will begin to see themselves as positive community role models in Brownsville. Members receive cash incentives for their participation as well as: 

* GED and college assistance

* Internship placement

* Professional development training

* Participation in community benefit projects

* Paid stipends of up to $1400 over six months!



All who meet the eligibility requirements should fill out an application attached or stop by our offices at 444 Thomas S. Boyland Street (between Pitkin and East New York Avenues) for more information. Completed applications can be emailed or dropped off at our office.

Eligibility Criteria: 

*16-24 years old (as of April 1, 2013)

*Justice system involvement within the last 12 months

*Strong preference for Brownsville residents

Questions? Call (347) 404-9587

Brownsville Anti-Violence Project Community Stakeholder Luncheon this Friday!

This Friday, March 8th at 2:30 the Brownsville Community Justice Center will convene a luncheon of community leaders and stakeholders as a part of it's newest initiative, the Brownsville Anti-Violence Project (BAVP). The Anti-Violence Project takes a three-pronged approach to improving public safety and local perceptions of justice in Brownsville: 1) monthly offender "call-in" forums, 2) a public education campaign promoting non-violence and cooperation with law enforcement, and 3) a range of community benefit projects. Violent crime is too often a part of Brownsville's narrative and reality. Anyone reading the statistics would agree that violent crime is an issue that cannot be ignored. The Center for Court Innovation's 2010 community-wide survey found that more than 70% of Brownsville residents and merchants cite gangs and guns as a "major problem" in the neighborhood. Because of this, the BAVP campaign will engage stakeholders from every sector of the community, from the churches and mosques, to business owners and youth leaders, to tenant associations and recreation managers, to police and public officials. Friday will be the first step toward building partnerships with this shared mission and building our collective capacity to make Brownsville a safer community for everyone. 

If you have any questions about this event or would like to learn more about the Brownsville Anti-Violence Project, please email BAVPevents@gmail.com or call 347-404-9589.