AmeriCorps and Department of Justice Announce Millions to Support 12 Innovative Juvenile Justice and Reentry Programs
22 Julio 2024 - 1:46PM
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and
volunteerism, and the DOJ Office of Justice Programs’ Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention today announced awards
to 12 innovative programs that support youth transitioning back
into their communities from juvenile residential or correctional
facilities.
The awards were made possible through $2.5 million in federal
funding from the Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Combined with funding from
AmeriCorps State and National, these funds will help support the
work of nearly 4,000 AmeriCorps members who will engage in service
across the nation.
"AmeriCorps' collaboration with the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention allows us to connect with young
individuals who may have been overlooked by the system, recruit a
diverse range of talent into AmeriCorps, and bolster organizations
with resources and know-how to support second-chance
youth," said Michael D. Smith, CEO,
AmeriCorps. "We are honored to welcome new grantees
like Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement and support their
impactful work in the juvenile justice and second-chance arenas to
make a difference and create brighter futures for our nation's
youth."
AmeriCorps and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention are dedicated to addressing the complex needs of youth
in the justice system. By leveraging the strengths of new and
existing grantees, the partnership aims to create a comprehensive
support network that fosters rehabilitation, growth, and community
integration for young individuals.
“As an AmeriCorps member myself many years ago, I know firsthand
what a great opportunity AmeriCorps offers for young
people,” said OJJDP Administrator Liz
Ryan. “We couldn’t be more proud to partner with
AmeriCorps to help system-involved youth overcome the barriers they
face during reentry and provide them the opportunity to contribute
to their communities, foster civic engagement, and improve lives.
These young volunteers will gain critical experience and resources,
while their communities get stronger. It is the ultimate win-win
for public safety.”
AmeriCorps programs awarded funds:
- Rocky Mountain Youth Corps – Taos, N.M.
- Milwaukee Christian Center Inc. – Milwaukee, Wis.
- Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement – Washington, DC
- Impact Justice California Justice Leaders – Oakland,
Calif.
- Judiciary Courts of the State of Arizona – Phoenix, Ariz.
- PowerCorpsPHL – Philadelphia, Pa.
- Public Allies Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Public Allies Indianapolis, Ind.
- Public Allies Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
- Renewal Unlimited, Inc. Fresh Start Program – Portage,
Wis.
- YouthBuild USA, Inc. – Roxbury, Mass.
- The Corps Network’s Opportunity Youth Service Initiative –
Washington, DC
Credible Messenger Mentoring
Movement helps youth and families break the cycle and
long-term impact of justice system involvement by supporting and
advancing credible messenger initiatives in the most impacted
communities across the nation. Through their grant with AmeriCorps,
they established the Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement’s
Credible Messenger Corps made up of 50 leaders who will mentor and
support 500 justice-involved youth, in Atlanta, Columbus, New
Orleans, New York, and San Diego.
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“CM3 is honored and excited to launch the Credible Messenger
Corps!” said Clinton Lacey, President & CEO,
Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement. “With
AmeriCorps support, we are now training, developing and positioning
50 emerging credible messenger leaders in five cities across the
nation to provide intensive transformative mentoring to 500 highly
vulnerable second chance youth per year. By forming trusting
relationships, providing safe spaces, facilitating healing and
restorative experiences and connecting youth to core services, the
Credible Messenger Corps members will make an important impact on
the youth they serve and the communities where they live.”
PowerCorpsPHL connects people to careers
and advances community. In Philadelphia, PowerCorpsPHL
engages un- and under-employed 18- to 30-year-olds venerable to gun
violence in an immersive, paid 4-to 24-month experience that
results in connection to living wage jobs in clean energy, green
infrastructure, and community-based careers.
“This collaboration lifts up what we’ve long known about our
communities: offering meaningful ways to connect and opportunities
to contribute to all people, regardless the paths thus far, brings
out the best in individuals and strengthens our
communities,” said Julia Hillengas, Co-Founder and
Executive Director, PowerCorpsPHL. “PowerCorpsPHL is
proud and honored to be part of this network to activate and
support the wealth of untapped talent in our
communities.”
Impact Justice’s California Justice Leaders
program supports young adults to make positive life
choices after incarceration, from helping them find safe,
affordable housing and paid work to continuing their education and
forging healthy relationships—challenges they would otherwise face
with little or no support. AmeriCorps members serving with
California Justice Leaders also help the young people they mentor
take advantage of record clearing pathways, opening doors that
otherwise might remain closed to them. The program is also a growth
opportunity and launch pad for the Justice Leaders themselves, who
transition from AmeriCorps placements into permanent jobs, go on to
pursue advanced degrees, and excel in many other ways.
“Our members don’t take this commitment
lightly,” said Kriss Goss-Marr, Director of Leadership
Programs at Impact Justice and lead for California Justice
Leaders. “Since launching California Justice Leaders
in February 2020, we’ve seen our members provide essential support
to hundreds of young people throughout their re-entry journeys and
on to bright and successful futures. They know that their service
as credible messengers creates ripple effects, touching the lives
of young people who face the same challenges they once did, making
it possible for those same young people to pay it forward in their
own communities."
National Service Press Office
AmeriCorps
(202) 766-2848
pressoffice@cns.gov