Place Based Work: A Year In Review

In April 2014, The Brownsville Community Justice Center launched it's first place based project, The Belmont Revitalization Project. The Project launched with a service day in the Belmont corridor. Over 100 volunteers, who live, work or go to school in Brownsville (11212), were recruited for service. Youth under the age of 24 were the largest group represented at the service day launch event. Service tasks included: street and sidewalk clean-ups, the installation of public art, graffiti removal, greening a vacant lot and planning for a permanent street plaza. The Justice Center’s staff solicited permission from all businesses/property owners for clean-up and graffiti removal and supervised all engagement activities.

Since then, the Justice Center has completed multiple place based initiatives not only on Belmont Avenue but throughout the Brownsville community. 

Osborn Street Plaza:
In October 2015, The Osborn Street Plaza opened to the public. The Osborn Plaza is an public pedestrian space for the Brownsville community. The Plaza is open for public use and can be utilized by residents, businesses and community based organizations. The Plaza features a mural created by Brownsville youth. 

In December 2015, The Justice Center held it's first Annual Tree Lighting. The Ceremony brought out over 100 families that enjoyed cookies and hot coca, music, crafts and pictures with Santa. The event included a toy give-a-way, with presents donated by Brownsville Ascend Charter School, located on Pitkin Avenue. Brownsville’s youngest residents from Brightside Daycare colored and decorated ornaments that adorned the tree. The night was made possible with a generous donation from Home Depot, who provided the tree.

Santa and the Tree

Be On Belmont: 
Over the summer,In collaboration with Department of Transportation and Small Business Services, The Justice Center hosted a series of street festivals once a month over 3 months. The "Be On Belmont" street festivals ran along Belmont Avenue between Rockaway Avenue and Watkins Street. The goals of the "Be On Belmont" street festivals were to help community residents re-imagine safe and pro-social activities possible along the corridor while simultaneously driving foot traffic to the businesses. The street festivals featured live performances, food, interactive cooking demonstrations, face painting, inflatable obstacle courses, resource information and much more and all free to the community.The Street Festivals engaged over 700 community residents over throughout the summer and fall months (Aug-Oct). Check out some highlights:

Marcus Garvey Village: 

The Marcus Garvey Project provides services that help residents, particularly the youth of Marcus Garvey Village, an opportunity to address issues that concern them and the community-at-large.  Discussing these issues gave the young people a chance to see that they can become positive agents of change in their community. Working alongside management, the Tenant’s Association and community residents--the young people learned the importance of being active community members and how their voice can be instrumental in making positive changes. One issue that the youth are currently tackling is the lack of recreational space for residents. The young people who are participating in the BCJC Marcus Garvey Project are in the process of activating a lot to accommodate this need.

The young people at Columbia U. Discussing the design of MGV

Large Community Benefit Projects:
Throughout the Brownsville Community, the Justice Center receives multiple requests from residents and business owners to complete community beautification projects, like graffiti removal and street clean ups.

Youth and Place Based Work: 

Designing Change

In Spring 2015, The Brownsville Youth Court and the Municipal Arts Society (MAS) partnered up to implement an exciting new initiative called Designing Change. Designing Change is an experiential program that uses design and art as a tool to engage youth in community-based planning and urban design projects in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The goals of the program is to develop the capacity of young people to lead projects that shape and support Brownsville and to empower them to participate in the revitalization of their neighborhood. The participants, who are high-school aged and reside in Brownsville, will collaborate with local elected officials, community residents and other professional designers, planners and developers.  

Marcus Garvey Apartments Resource Fair

While brainstorming solutions to some of the issues in their community, the young people of Marcus Garvey Apartments knew that holding a Resource Fair would allow residents to be well informed of opportunities and resources available to them. When planning the Resource Fair, the young people thought long and hard about ways to make a Resource Fair attractive for every age. With perfect timing, a holiday themed Resource Fair was well underway. 

In December, BCJC staff, Marcus Garvey Justice Community members along with a host of partner organizations filled the Betsy Head Gymnasium to throw the first ever Marcus Garvey Resource Fair with a holiday flair. Partner organizations in attendance were: Made in Brownsville, Brownsville Partnership, Legal Hand & the Melting Pot. Over 100 MGA adults and children were in attendance. Residents danced, took pictures with Santa Claus, decorated Christmas ornaments, enjoyed a community meal, and participated in a raffle.

  

Young Change Makers: Introducing the Brownsville Builders!!!

In November 2015, the Brownsville Community Justice Center launched an exciting new youth program aimed at empowering Brownsville's youth to effect positive change in their community. The Brownsville Builders is a service-learning program for young people age 14-18 living in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Over a school year, 10-12 young people are trained in community organizing, civic engagement, design and city planning principles in order to address issues of public safety and economic justice in their community. Funded by the State Farm's Youth Advisory Board, the Builder's have been off to amazing start. 

The Brownsville Builders consists of young people who live or attend in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The builders work with residents, businesses, and stakeholders to help create safer, cleaner, family friendly spaces through neighborhood planning. The Builders are focusing on Belmont Avenue (between Rockaway Ave. and Mother Gaston Blvd.). Belmont Avenue is an important part of Brownsville that has been in rapid decline. The Builders hope to reduce criminal activity and improve physical conditions by re-imagining physical spaces and providing positive activity for young people. 

Since November, the Builders have spoken with Community Board 16 District Manager, Viola Green-Walker; the Youth Services Committee (CB16); Transportation Alternative and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker. Additionally, the Builders have been actively engaging the community by completing 250 resident surveys to gain resident perspectives about the current conditions and services on Belmont Avenue; presenting at the Monthly Community Board 16 meeting;volunteering at community events and providing a list of recommendations to improve resources for disconnected youth in Brownsville to Assemblywoman Latrice Walker.  

To learn more information about the Brownsville Builders, please contact Ionna Jimenez at ijimenez@nycourts.gov. 

Check out some of our highlights below: 

Some of the builders in uniform

Team Building Exercises

Discussing possible solutions for some of the area's most dangerous intersections

After meeting with Transportation Alternatives

Sharing their recommendations with Assemblywoman Walker

Team Building Part 2

#TBGE: “The Biggest Graduation Ever”

December 18^th, 2015 we held our 1^st ever combined graduation of Justice Community (JC) Brownsville, JC+ Brownsville, JC+ Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy dubbed #TBGE: “The Biggest Graduation Ever”!! With over 120 people in attendance (our largest graduation ceremony in BCJC history), current participants, alumni, staff, community partners, friends, and family commenced at the Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza for the culminating event. Each Justice Community track presented their performances, presentations, and speeches as they received their certificates. The two hour ceremony also included food, music, films from Justice Community/Reel Works participants, and guest speakers from participants’ internship placement supervisors. It was truly an amazing ceremony. The purpose of this event is to acknowledge the growth and achievement of each participant. Making them aware of such accomplishment will only result in more successful and positive outcomes.

Justice Community PLUS for Crown Heights and Bed Stuy graduated 16 participants on December 18th. There were a number of great moments and "small tangible wins" over the course of six months with these cohorts but, there were two young people who went especially above and beyond that we would like to recognize.

Charisma Daly has demonstrated her ability to carry the torch as a leader since she joined the JCP Program. She helped to establish a sense of community in and outside the classroom. Charisma was diligent about attending community board meetings, community benefit projects and job readiness workshops. She is a single mother who is working full-time while pursuing her GED.  We look forward to supporting you and your dreams Charisma!

Benaiah Foster is a quiet power, he has accomplished a great deal during the course of his JCP experience.  He is very inquisitive and always looking to broaden his knowledge base in everything from STEM to the world of construction.  Benaiah earned two certifications, an OSHA 10 certification that will afford him with an opportunity to work in construction and a  G4 NFPA 70E Electrician Certification while enrolled in the Justice Community PLUS program adding to his overall proficiency in electrical.  He is on the path to accomplishing so much more! Great Job Ben! Keep up the Outstanding work!

JC & JC+ graduates, their family and friends

Alan Waxman, teaching artist with Mark Morris Dance Group shows off participants work.

JC+ Bed-Stuy participant, Andre Tucker and Teaching Artist Carl Belizaire showing off their Flexing skills.

As graduation is viewed as the end of a journey full of experiences and challenges, it is also the beginning of a new journey that awaits our participants. We wish our graduates good luck on their future endeavors.  

WE ARE RECRUITING!!!

Justice Community Brownsville, Justice Community Plus Crown Heights & Bed-Stuy is currently recruiting young people between the ages of 16 – 24 years old. Stop in our main office 444 Thomas Boyland Street, Suite 207, Brooklyn NY 11212 or call Deron Johnston, Associate Director at 347-404-9588 for more info. 

First Annual Osborn Street Plaza Tree Lighting

On December 11, 2015, the Brownsville Community Justice Center hosted the first event to unveil the Osborn Street Plaza to the Brownsville, Community. The Tree Lighting brought out over 100 families that enjoyed cookies and hot coca, music, crafts and pictures with Santa. The event included a toy give-a-way, with presents donated by Brownsville Ascend Charter School, located on Pitkin Avenue. Brownsville’s youngest residents from Brightside Daycare colored and decorated ornaments that adorned the tree. The night was made possible with a generous donation from Home Depot, who provided the tree.

Check out pictures below:

Santa and the Tree

Santa arrives!!

Brownsville Builder, Sydneta, handing out cookies

Santa handing out toys to all the good little boys and girls

Happy to see Santa!!

Face painting

Arts and Crafts

The Brownsville Community Justice Center would like to thank all of our community partners who helped make our first Tree Lighting a great success:

Brightside Daycare

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Home Depot

Community Affairs 73^rd PCT

Community Board 16

3 Black Cats Café

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.

MGB POPS

When individuals mention Brownsville, their first thoughts might race towards violent crime and poverty. But, Brownsville is more than that. Brownsville is a growing community that is banning together to make their vibrant voices, ideas, and aspirations heard. 

Vacant lot before the construction of MGB Pops 

One way that Brownsville Justice Community is helping residents of Brownsville in uplifting the community is through the construction of innovative businesses, such as pop-up marketplaces. Brownsville Justice Community worked in collaboration with Community Solutions’ Brownsville Partnership, Ocean Hill Brownsville Neighborhood Improvement Association, and New York City’s Economic Development Corporation in the creation of MBG POPS, a seasonal pop-up marketplace that is located at 425 Mother Gaston Blvd.  



The Grand Opening of the MGB Pops Lot

Placing contemporary vendors in the center of one of the most prominent streets in Brownsville goes far beyond improving local business attraction and profit making. MGB POPS is a pivotal example of what can be generated when investment and hope is combined with inspiration and community. This marketplace, holds as a positive example for all community members by showing that everyone has the potential to create their own business. MGB POPS is a place where they can share their talents, artistry, and passion.

Participants of the Brownsville Justice Community have assisted in the construction of MGB POPS while learning new hand-ons on skills. They are also further enhancing their entrepreneurship and employment skills by working with the Made In Brownsville vending booth that sells the t-shirts they inspired and helped to designed. 

Participants and with Quardean Lewis, Founder and Principle Designer, Made In Brownsville.

Made in Brownsville (MiB) Vending Booth

Participants also create positive influences by being visible and interacting with local community members, especially other local youth. Participants can recruit local youth to obtain employment and assist them in learning similar management and business skills. Increasing employment skills will then allow individuals to become more competitive in the workforce as they continue on their path towards their desired career.

The MGB Pops mural Justice Community Participants helped to paint.

Having a venue where a wide range of individuals can get together in one place allows for a great opportunity to network, and create connections that might be useful in the future. Since it is a seasonal marketplace, this also allows for a variety of new vendors and shoppers each year. The presence of new vendors will enhance the diversity of connections that can be established. Vendors and shoppers will be more likely to expand their presence into the community and gather in other positive spaces, such as in parks or plazas after becoming more connected through the marketplace. MBG POPS is also a great location where adults and youth can come together in a positive environment to share their ideas and skills. Getting adults to support youth and vice versa makes an even greater impact in uplifting the community by getting more individuals engaged and involved with change.

MGB POPS seeks to be an inspiration to create future marketplaces and lively venues where community residents can come together to have fun and create long lasting memories. Preserving the collaboration between community members and local agencies will help ensure that such projects and the value of Brownsville continues to prosper.