Corps Members Lead Event in honor of MLK where Brooklyn Teens "Dream of a Better Brooklyn"

Despite the fact that yesterday was a school and court holiday, more than one hundred Brooklyn teens, AmeriCorps members and Center for Court Innovation staff came together in Red Hook for Martin Luther King Day of Service to make the holiday a “day on, not a day off.” In observance of what would been Dr. King’s 83^rd birthday, members of the New York Juvenile Justice Corps were joined by teens from the Red Hook Youth Court, Brownsville Youth Court, Greenpoint Youth Court, Crown Heights Community Mediation Center’s YO SOS and Red Hook Community Justice Center’s Youth ECHO for an event entitled “We Have a Dream too, A Dream for a Better Brooklyn.”

To kick off yesterday’s program, Juvenile Justice Corps members facilitated break-out groups on topics such as discrimination, police brutality, segregation, civil disobedience, peace and non-violence, civil rights and freedom and discussed how many of the injustices Dr. King fought still affect our communities today. Teens reporting back to the whole group one thing they learned or took away from each discussion, including reflections on how New York City is still segregated in many ways, and on how remarkable it was that our group was so diverse with people from all backgrounds. Additionally, in preparation for the event, all of the teens read Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and wrote their own speeches and poems “for a better Brooklyn.” During the event, twenty-two teens shared their original pieces interspersed with selections from Dr. King’s speech. The readings were poignant, powerful, and beautifully written. A few excerpts from the pieces shared and pictures are below.

The take home message from the day was that Dr. King’s legacy lives on in all of us and we are all responsible to promote his dream for a more equitable and just world. It was inspiring to be in a room filled with young people who are already embodying Dr. King's dream as leaders in their communities, schools and workplaces. Through serving on Youth Courts, doing community organizing through ECHO or YO SOS, or giving a year of service through AmeriCorps, they have already committed to working toward justice, to standing alongside the most vulnerable among us, and to finding positive solutions to problems in our communities.

Corps members lead teens in a discussion about civil rights

Excerpts from some of yesterdays speeches:

“I have a dream that one day the neighborhoods of Brooklyn will unite. That the children of the future will not be afraid to dream big while they gaze our there windows. Whether those windows are out of public housing, shelters, brownstones or even the 6^th floor of apartment somewhere in Brownsville. I have a dream that one day they will refuse to look for the love of the streets because they will find all the love they ever needed and more in the trust of the system. They will find comfort in education and choose the community as their backbone, believing Brooklyn can be the wind beneath their wings instead of the invisible force and environment that hinders. A dream that all my beautiful sisters will rise with high self-esteem and ambition, striving to be better than their best. That they will no longer let the media degrade them or let them feel they are not beautiful in their own ebony skin. I have a dream that my beautiful brothers will break the hidden cycles. They will turn away those life endangering orange jumpsuits and embrace black ties with white collars leaving the streets behind.“

Teens from the Brownsville, Greenpoint and Red Hook Youth Courts discuss segregation under Jim Crow laws

“I had a dream. This dream showed me what I wanted my better Brooklyn to be. I dreamed that everyone will refuse to be another black statistic. And in the future I do not want to wear a barcode across our chest, to let a certain clothing line define us. I dream that Brooklyn will be better. I dream for our children to always have fathers. I refuse to grow up carrying the generational curse. I refuse to let my people be viewed as temporary. And I feel it is my job and the job of the next generation to continue on this path. Because we should all refuse to be another black statistic.”

Corps members facilitate a dialogue on the history of discrimination in the US

“My Dad and I walked up the street. It was cold outside, so we wore hoodies to protect our faces against the cold. I spotted a white couple approaching us as we walked. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have really cared to notice the complexion of the persons that I encounter as I walk from one place to another, until they crossed the street to a deserted area littered with broken bottles, cigarette butts, and animal dung. No one ever walks on that side of the street, so immediately I found it strange. You could see the look of fear in the woman’s eyes moved from me to my father. Instinctively, the woman grabbed the collar of her coat in attempt to mask the warning nudge she gave to her partner…I often observe silent social segregation in my neighborhood. That white couple seemed to confirm my theory. As my father and I walked with our sweatshirt hoods covering our heads, walking in rhythm, minding our business, they surveyed us as no-good thugs…But allow me to bring your attention to this: Red Hook – where I live – is literally cut in half by an overpass that acts as a border. Before the border is a predominantly white neighborhood. After the border the neighborhood is predominantly black. It epitomizes de facto segregation which irks me given the history of this country. So my dream for Red Hook, Brooklyn, and for America, is to transcend these divisions. There should be a sense of togetherness not tied to color, but to humanity.”

Teens share their own "dreams for a better Brooklyn"

"I have a dream that one day everyone in Brooklyn will be able to live affordably. That the powers that govern our state and federal government will be cleansed of all corruption and the top one percent will share their wealth.
I have a dream that all sick people from infants to senior citizens will not be denied health care no matter how much money they make. That people will rise together and unify the communities instead of tearing them a part with violence.
There will be that one day when we will not see any homeless people in the subway station. That one day when the price of food will be affordable to every family. White, Black, or poor, a dream where people will not have to cling to their assets in case the economic system fails and that everyone will be guaranteed a safe place to live.
I have a dream where bills do not take up the majority of your pay check. A dream where people are not taken advantage of and forced to make the bare minimum. A dream where people are truly free. Let’s remember that a dream can only be made into a reality if everyone does their part. A dream that is ideal for all the future generations, a dream that everyone deserves."

After the program everyone gathered for moment of silence in honor of Dr. King 

Corps Members help over 400 people resolve outstanding warrants in Project Safe Surrender

Last weekend, Juvenile Justice Corps members joined hundreds of volunteers from Brownsville, Bedford Stuyvesant and East New York area churches to bring a courthouse to the community in an initiative called "Project Safe Surrender". For two days, ADA's from the Kings County District Attorney's Office, Court Officers, Clerks, Legal Aid attorneys and Community Affairs Officers from the 73rd Precinct set up shop in the Mt. Sion Baptist Church on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn. Safe Surrender was an opportunity for men and women with outstanding warrants to clear their warrants and resolve low-level cases with favorable consideration. Tens of thousands of people are currently warranted in Brooklyn, many for missing their court hearing for very minor violations such as walking their dog off-leash, littering or having an open container of alcohol in public view. However, these minor cases can become more serious when an individual is stopped by the police, arrested and taken into custody.

On both days, a line began to form outside the church starting at 7:00 AM. Men and women waited patiently in the pews of the Church while the Judge heard over 400 cases, dismissing most with ACD's which are wiped clean from the defendant's record if they  stay out of trouble for 6 months. Juvenile Justice Corps members performed street outreach before and during the event, spreading the word and reassuring skeptics that it was not a "got ya!" move for law enforcement. This was the third time a Safe Surrender has been held in Brooklyn and in all three, no arrests were made. Corps members also organized and tabled at a resource fair located next door to the Church which included local community based organizations with information on health care, housing, education, anti-gang violence, and jobs. And finally, Corps members conducted surveys with every defendant exiting the court. The interview included basic demographic information as well as how the individual found out about Safe Surrender. It asked the nature of the charge, how long the individual had been warranted and what had prevented them from clearing their warrant prior to Safe Surrender. The results will be shared with the DA's office and other Safe Surrender organizers to plan future Safe Surrenders.

Juvenile Justice Corps members Dianne Graham and Lee Serrano were featured in the New York Times coverage of Safe Surrender:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/in-a-brooklyn-church-lining-up-to-erase-legal-sins/?scp=1&sq=Dianne%20Graham&st=cse

 Corps Member Annelly Chalas conducts a survey with a man who just had his warrant cleared.

Corps member Mattie Liskow conducts a survey.

 

Corps members man a table at the community resource fair and hand out applications for paid programming for youth such as the Brownsville Youth Court and Youth Justice Board.

Corps members do some last-minute outreach, handing out flyers throughout the neighborhood

Corps member Danny Conyers surveys a man leaving the court 

Men and women wait patiently to meet with a Legal Aid attorney before going before the Judge

A makeshift courtroom was set up in the back room of the Church

 Corps members direct men and women leaving the courtroom down the stairs to the Resource Fair

Corps member helps organize the Brownsville Youth Court's first graduation

On Thursday, November 10th, the Brownsville Youth Court, the Center for Court Innovation's newest Youth Court, inducted 8 new teen members into the youth court and celebrated the graduation of it's first cohort. Youth Courts are are diversion programs that train teens to serve as judges, jurors and advocates in their peers cases. The Brownsville Youth Court now has 19 youth court members, 9 of whom are from the Brownsville/East New York area. The first cohort logged 1320 hours collectively on the court over the course of 103 hearings with a sanction compliance rate of 93%. Youth Court respondents have completed 228 hours of community service and our Youth Court members have completed 121 hours. Corps member, Danny Conyers, serves with the Brownsville Youth Court alongside Program Associate, Sharese Crouther who is a two-term AmeriCorps alumn. The New York Juvenile Justice Corps places nine Corps members with five other Youth Courts throughout New York City in Staten Island, Queens, Greenpoint, Red Hook and Harlem.

Corps member helps organize "Week of Peace" events in Crown Heights

During their first month of service, Juvenile Justice Corps members Anthony Mohen and Radel Clause helped organize events for the "Week of Peace" in Crown Heights. Anthony and Radel serve with the Save Our Streets ("S.O.S.") and Youth Organizing to Save Our Streets ("YO S.O.S.") programs at the Crown Heights Community Mediation Center.  

The highlight of the Week of Peace was the Second Annual Peach March on October 20^th. Three hundred people marched in the streets of Crown Heights, including a number of schools, churches, and other community organizations, as well as severeal members of the Juvenile Justice Corps. Chants such as “Don’t Shoot! I want to Grow up!”, “I don’t know what you’ve been told; Bullets kill both young and old…” and “You save my child; I’ll save your child” were heard loud and clear as members of the community marched from Eastern Parkway and Utica Avenue, to Kingston Avenue. The march ended outside Brower Park with a rally and ceremony to support and remember victims of violence and their families, to celebrate the positive changes we are continuing to make in our community, and to commit to work as a community to promote nonviolence. Three hundred balloons were released into the air with messages of peace, solidarity, and remembrance inscribed on them by members of the community.

On Friday, October 21^st Corps members helped organize a screening of The Interrupters, a movie about the Chicago CeaseFire program on which the S.O.S. program is modeled. The screening drew a crowd of over 100 people including members of the New York Juvenile Justice Corps. After the film, audience members had the opportunity to ask questions of our own Crown Heights Violence Interrupters and Outreach Workers. Attendees also wrote notes to the S.O.S. team, who appreciated hearing about the impact their work has had on the community and that the community supports them in their work.

Corps Member organizes walk to raise awareness about Teen Dating Violence

On October 27th, the Staten Island Youth Justice Center hosted its first annual Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk. The event was envisioned and executed by young people for young people with the guidance and support of New York Juvenile Justice Corps member, Dana Rachlin, who serves with the Justice Center's Alternative-to-Detention (ATD) program, Project READY.

Corps member Dana Rachlin addresses the crowd before the march

For the event, the Girls Group of READY ATD created banners and t-shirts with slogans of healthy relationships and acknowledgments of those who had been lost to dating violence. The evening started with a moving presentations by individuals who had lost loved ones to dating violence. Assemblyman Mike Cusick spoke about the prevalence of teen dating violence and his commitment to educating young people on how to stay safe. Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, representatives from the New York City Department of Probation and officers from the local police precinct were on hand to show their support for the cause. The walk was led by participants and alumni of READY ATD. They were joined by teen members and trainees of the Staten Island Youth Court and the Red Hook Youth Court who were led by Juvenile Justice Corps members Leticia Lucero, Edwin Saunders, Lameeka Collins and Sierra Green. In total, 50 young people walked to take a stand against teen dating violence and promote greater awareness amongs their peers about how to have safe and healthy relationships.

Teen members of the Red Hook Youth Court led by Corps members Lameeka Collins and Sierra Green came to show their support

Teen members of the Staten Island Youth Court led by Corps members Leticia Lucero and Edwin Saunders marched in support of the cause

Brownsville Community Dialogue

On June 23rd at the Stone Avenue Library in Brownsville, Juvenile Justice Corps Members joined community members and staff from the Center for Court Innovation for a presentation of the Brownsville "Op Data" Community Survey results and to participate in a dialogue. Corps Members had conducted the survey of over 800 residents and merchants in Brownsville back in October and were eager to hear the findings and begin working toward positive solutions.  

Community members voiced their reaction and analysis of the survey findings and the light they shed on larger issues in Brownsville. Many topics were brought up, including the concern from community members about "outsiders"  coming in to try to help but not doing much, the importance of focusing on schools, and frustration about gang violence and lack of job opportunities. One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from a group of young teens who shared their personal experiences about trying to keep from getting caught up in the violence in the community, especially in the summertime. Since October, Corps Members have continued to serve in Brownsville, helping to launch a Youth Court (a restorative justice model in which teens influence the behavior of other teens through positive peer pressure) and engage community members in the planning of a community justice center for the neighborhood.  

Corps Members and others learn the results of the survey that asked more than 800 Brownsville residents and merchants about their perceptions of safety, youth crime and opportunities in their community.

Corps Members Support Kids in OCFS Facilities to "Be the Change" in their Community

Today the Red Hook Community Justice Center hosted an event to celebrate a unique partnership between the New York Juvenile Justice Corps, New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and generationOn to pilot a service-learning initiative for youth juvenile facilities. OCFS Commissioner, Gladys Carrion, addressed the audience and emphasized the value of partnerships and positive programming like this that keep their youth closer to home and in their communities.

This new initiative places Juvenile Justice Corps Members throughout OCFS facilities in Brooklyn and the Bronx. These highly-trained members facilitate and bring to life a service-learning curriculum designed by generationOn, “Be the Change New York.” The curriculum is based on a restorative justice model and is designed to re-engage youth through hands-on service projects and leadership opportunities.  The Corps Members serve as both instructors and role models to young people in OCFS facilities.  Over the course of a year, more than 100 young people in OCFS facilities have learned valuable life skills, built positive relationships, performed community service, and given back to their local communities.

A packed audience with representatives from the New York City Department of Probation, OCFS, the New York State Unified Court System, the Legal Aid Society, and the New York City Law Department saw an entertaining and educational presentation by Corps Members about the new Service Learning initiative. New York State Senator, Velmanette Montgomery, and a representative from City Councilmember’s Sara Gonzelez’ office were also on hand to celebrate and address the group and emphasize the need to give New York’s children more opportunities to grow up in a safe community. This initiative has been so successful that it will be expanded over the next year with the help of three new Corps Members.

Corps Members Raju Chowdhury and Alicia Grant alongside OCFS Commisioner Gladys Carrion, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Deputy Director and Project Director of the Red Hook Community Justice Center Jessica Colon and Julian Adler.