Justice Community PLUS presents: "The Classic Man and Woman"

Justice Community Plus participants from Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights were part of a phenomenal experience that included style, grace and professional mentoring.  As participants approached phase three of their programming, they began exploring career fields.  Aside from planning their own professional goals, participants sharpened work readiness skills such as workplace etiquette, thirty second elevator pitches, resume writing, team building, and dressing for success.

 Career Gear Staff Stylist Oscar J Prado, Director of Programs CG, Justice Community PLUS participants and
Tarisse Iriarte Community Engagement Specialist from the Brownsville Community Justice Center

To help the participants learn about workplace attire, the Brownsville Community Justice Center, the Justice Community PLUS program, Dress4Success, and Career Gear partnered to offer a one of a kind opportunity for participants.

Sheba is ready to work!

Career Gear is a New York-based non-profit organization designed to assist young men with professional opportunities by offering suits, personal and professional development, financial literacy and a wealth of other resources.  

Monty is a boss!

Marvin's shoes are cleeeaaann!!!

As a community partner, Career Gear has been one of the Brownsville Community Justice Center’s greatest supporters.  Our participants were not only  invited to take part in a media campaign with Defy Media called Made Men (using the hashtag #formalfriday to promote dressing up on Fridays rather than wearing casual wear), but they were also offered free suits and shoes!

Rashuni, an aspiring veterinarian, expressed how happy he was with his suiting experience. “I really like how they helped me match the suit…I feel confident wearing it…it feels good!”

Hannah is ready to take care of business!

Career Gear takes great care with each of the participants by providing them with an individualized fitting. Every shirt, tie, jacket, and pair of shoes is hand-selected by the participant and an on-site professional stylist.

Shaiiquan is envisioning what the view from his future office will look like.

Andre, an aspiring graphic designer/performer is pictured above wearing a Ferragamo suit that he said makes him feel like he could do anything.

Beyond introducing the professional aesthetic to participants, expanding their sense of identity to include "working professional" has become a pivotal point of their professional development. 

Charisma sporting her brand professional attire 

Actress Blake Lively once said “The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence.” As we prepare our young people for a journey into the next phase of their lives, we are excited for them to bring these new found professional qualities of confidence with them into the classroom and the board room.