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Throughout 2016, the
Justice Community program (a youth led program operating out of the
Brownsville Community Justice Center) worked with residents, community leaders, and community stakeholders to face community challenges head on.
Brownsville youth (along with
Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy youth) strove to become thought leaders in problem solving both personal and community issues, all while developing lasting relationships with staff, each other, and community stakeholders. Participants even received stipends while they developed their skill sets.
Interest Based Workshops
In an attempt to strengthen their own development, move closer to their goals, and better position themselves to be community advocates,
Justice Community participants confidently engaged in a variety of learning opportunities. Participants selected interests, and then attended workshops to begin their journey to achievement.
At the start of the year, Brownsville youth identified neighborhood deficits and worked to build their own solutions to various challenges.
- Work Readiness -
Participants then began attending work readiness workshops developed resumes, participated in mock interviews, practiced personal pitches, received professional dress attire, strengthened workplace etiquette, landed internships, earned vocational certifications (OSHA, Auto Cad, etc.), studied for (and passed) GED/TASC exams, and more.
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| Nick studying for the TASC exam. Winning! |
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| Participants preparing for job interviews. We up! |
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| Participants getting free dress attire for their first internships and jobs. Nice! |
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| Participants earned OSHA certifications and got hands on experience with tools |
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| SQUAD! |
- Young Adult Entrepreneurship Program -
Participants who enrolled in the Young Adult Entrepreneurship Program (YAEP) explored the entrepreneur mindset and learned how to create a brand, market themselves, manage finances, foster ideation, and more. Participants in YAEP took their ideas a step further and also teamed up with
The Knowledge House to learn the basics of coding so they could build websites to accompany their businesses.
PLACE BASED PROJECTS
As participants developed their own personal skill sets and goals, they also identified and tackled neighborhood issues. Providing an alternate narrative to the short sighted reputation permeating Brownsville, youth physically transformed and activated spaces throughout the neighborhood.
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| Participants showing love to the children of the community |
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| Breaking Bread With The Community |
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| Footwork! |
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| Justice Community artists performing for community onlookers |
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| BARS!!! |
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| Stronger Together |
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| Where YOUR shot at though???!!! |
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| Oozing Creativity |
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| Drums, Bass, Guitar, Mic, Sound Check...IT'S LIT!!! |
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| Beautification! |
- Youth Club House -
Continuing the work of previous Justice Community cohorts, Justice Community participants designed, built, and activated a youth club house to address the need for more youth and community spaces in Brownsville.
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| Brownsville Community Justice Center staff planning with a brand new cohort of participants |
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| Before construction was completed, we invited the community to watch a movie and relax in the new space |
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| Watching Barbershop 3 |
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The plans are complete!
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Participants built their own space to share with the community
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| Justice Community participants, staff, and partners finished construction |
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| Let's celebrate the grand opening! |
In the spring of 2016, in a media and design workshop at the Brownsville Community Justice Center, a group of youth were tasked with observing and documenting their neighborhood through the lens of a camera. This group found that the most uplifting images were infused with light and showcased their favorite qualities of their community.
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| Installing kiosks for the photos of the best of Brownsville |
The Best of Brownsville Photo Project is now a public art installation under the Livonia Avenue elevated train track. For 11 months, Brownsville youth worked with the Brownsville Community Justice Center to curate photographs taken by their neighbors on a rotating basis to publicly display them as the central aspect of the installation.
TRIPS, GET-AWAYS, AND FUN
We are definitely not all work and no play though. Participants enjoyed trips to parks, the Barclays, Six Flags Great Adventure, and more!!!
Art in the Park
Barclays
Six Flags
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| A pitstop on the way back from Six Flags Great Adventure |
The Brownsville Community Justice Center and its Justice Community program looks forward to 2017 and graduating the next cohort of participants and continuing to strengthen the Brownsville family.
"JC Graduation 2016"
