NYC Justice Corps

250 Corps members Served in Second Program Year!

In its second program year, the NYC Justice Corps has exceeded its goal of providing services to 250 Corps members! This program year has featured the largest graduating class to date from the Bronx site which graduated 26 Corps members in June. See the Bronx’s latest newsletter here to read more about this graduating class which featured Corps members who interned at the NYC Department of Probation. To read about the accomplishments Brooklyn Corps members have achieved including post-Corps placements at the College of New Rochelle, see their first newsletter here and watch the video here developed by Brooklyn Corps member about their experience completing community service projects and transitioning into internships. Corps members from both sites continue to successfully transition to work and educational opportunities throughout the City.

National and Citywide Spotlight

The NYC Justice Corps was recently featured in two workforce development conferences. The program model was featured at the New York City Employment and Training Coalition Workforce Development Summit & Expo by the New York City Center for Economic Opportunities (CEO), the Justice Corps’ funder and partner in strategic planning and on-going development. Carson Hicks, CEO’s Deputy Director of Evaluation moderated a panel on disconnected youth programs that included Dorick Scarpelli, Program Director, NYC Justice Corps Bronx site. Secondly, at the Grassroots & Groundwork conference held in Portland Oregon alongside David Berman, CEO’s Senior Advisor who provided an overview of CEO’s workforce development initiatives, Ali Knight, Director, NYC Justice Corps presented on the Justice Corps. Their presentations were part of the Innovations in Job Training and Workforce Development Break-out Session of the conference which convened over 400 participants from around the country to explore creative approaches to poverty reduction. Access the Break-out Session webinar from the conference here.

Politically Active Brooklyn Justice Corps Members

The Brooklyn Justice Corps continues to encourage political awareness and activism among Corps members. In April, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC) hosted an event in honor of Shirley Chisholm, the nation’s first African American Congresswoman. The event was attended by Congressman Edolphus Towns and PBS documentary filmmaker Shola Lynch, among others. Brooklyn Corps members volunteered at the event, and Corps member Brian Meyers introduced Na’eem Douglas, the event’s emcee from News 12 Brooklyn. Photographs from the event can be found here. Additionally, toward completing service on community benefit service projects, Brooklyn Corps members were featured in a YouTube video in which they highlighted the importance of filling out the Census in order to secure funding for their community. Watch the video clip.

Bronx Justice Corps Releases First Newsletter

The Bronx site has released its first edition of Just On Point, the NYC Justice Corps’ first newsletter. The newsletter includes information on the progress of current Corps members as they advance toward graduation and details about employment trends, among other information. Distinguished alumni who demonstrated superb leadership abilities while in the program are also highlighted. The newsletter also announces the opening of the Alumni Services Department which provides one on one job readiness coaching, workshops to improve hiring potential and continued support toward educational advancement. For alumni who have been placed in employment or back in school, the department provides retention to help them remain engaged in these pursuits. Additionally, the Alumni Services Department oversees the Peer Leadership Academy for alumni who were selected to participate based on their program performance. Members of the Peer Leadership Academy are responsible for developing this newsletter. Click here to access your copy.

Second Annual College Fair

On April 2, 2010, John Jay College of Criminal Justice hosted the Second Annual NYC Justice Corps College Fair. The College welcomed Corps members and staff from the Brooklyn and Bronx sites, and participants from the Henry Street Settlement Young Adults Internship Program. Attendees toured the College and participated in a panel discussion with representatives from the offices of Admissions and Financial Aid and the College Initiative, a NYC-based nonprofit that connects formerly incarcerated individuals with opportunities and support necessary to excel in higher education.

NYC Justice Corps Seeks Education Consultant

The Prisoner Reentry Institute at John Jay College of Criminal Justice seeks to identify an individual or organization to serve as an education consultant to refine and enhance the educational component of the NYC Justice Corps model.  The College will begin piloting educational services in April 2010.  The consultant will be hired during the early stages of implementation to monitor, assess and provide program development support to enhance the educational services and develop a contextualized education curriculum.  This contract will be executed through the College’s fiscal agent, the Research Foundation of The City University of New York.  Access the Statement of Need here and direct all questions here.

Mayor Bloomberg Highlights Justice Corps

In Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2010 State of the City Address he defined his administration’s strategy to connect black and Hispanic young adults to opportunities and support that can lead them to success.  In addition to the City’s effort to provide intensive services to young adults involved with the criminal justice system and employ evidence-based practices to maintain public safety, Mayor Bloomberg highlighted his administration’s commitment to expanding the NYC Justice Corps to provide Corps members more jobs and improve their ability to reenter successfully. This year as a result of funding from the City, the NYC Justice Corps will expand to a third site located in the West Farms section of the South Bronx.  In addition, funding from the Robin Hood Foundation will allow the current Bronx site to launch its menu of alumni and job support services to graduates of the Justice Corps.  The Mayor’s full address is available here.

Year One Evaluation of NYC Justice Corps Released

The Evaluation Report of the NYC Justice Corps: The Final Report of Year One Implementation was released in December 2009 and the executive summary can be downloaded here. Metis Associates authored the Evaluation Report which offers a comprehensive account of the program’s first 12 months from the initial start-up phase from July 2008 to September 2008 through the first nine months of the program’s launch (through June 2009). It also identifies challenges faced by the program which informed how we have continued to refine the model. Many of the lessons learned and recommendations for improvement have been incorporated into the NYC Justice Corps program model and operational policies for the second program year, which started in September 2009.

Funded by the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity, the NYC Justice Corps is an ambitious demonstration initiative that seeks to change how communities address the reentry of young people from the criminal justice system. Specifically, the NYC Justice Corps aims to develop the capacity of neighborhoods to address the reintegration challenges of their young adults and instill in those young adults a sense of civic responsibility and accountability to the communities to which they return. The full report is available upon request.

Herb Sturz visits the Brooklyn Justice Corps

On November 12, 2009, the Brooklyn Justice Corps site hosted Herb Sturz, the Founding Chairman of The After-School Corporation and Founding Director of the Vera Institute of Justice, and Jeremy Travis, President of John Jay College. The two visited with Corps members who recently graduated and are now employed, as well as Corps members who are currently working on community benefit service projects.

Bronx Justice Corps Video

The NYC Justice Corps Bronx site shares the experiences of several Corps members, staff and partners in a video about the program and the opportunities it provides. Personal testimonies describe successful community benefit service projects, employment experiences, and future goals to help employers and community members learn about NYC Justice Corps and the benefits of becoming a partner. The video was produced by Night Train Films, a New York City-based production company. Having the crew on site for several months inspired one ambitious Corps member to pursue an internship with the company. Braulio Martinez spent six weeks working with Night Train as a production assistant, learning everything from invoicing clients to supporting a production crew at various locations.