New York City Justice Corps Celebrated the First Graduation at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Colvin W. Grannum, President of Restoration, said, "it has been most gratifying to see the growth and development of the young men and women in the NYC Justice Corps. This program brings new hope and opportunity not only to the youth that are participating, but to the families and their Central Brooklyn community that they come home to." Grannum continued, this program is integral to Restoration's mission to improve the quality of life for Bedford Stuyvesant by fostering economic self sufficiency, enhancing family stability and growth, promoting the arts and culture and transforming the neighborhood into a safe, vibrant place to live, work and visit.
"Our goal in New York City is to help people lift - and keep - themselves out of poverty," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda Gibbs. "That is why Mayor Bloomberg launched the Center for Economic Opportunity, which is an innovation lab to test a diverse new generation of anti-poverty strategies. Programs like the Civic Justice Corps address the multi-layered challenge of one of our target populations -- young adults who are disconnected. Our hope is that through this program, these youth can avoid re-arrest, get on a more positive path and contribute something worthwhile to their communities, while also getting the benefit of an internship and job experience."
The NYC Justice Corps is a collaborative initiative spearheaded by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the NYC Department of Correction, and one of a range of anti-poverty programs sponsored by the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity. Restoration is one of two convening organizations tapped to administer and run the NYC Justice Corps. Phipps Community Development Corporation has been selected to operate a parallel program in the Bronx.
The six-month intensive program provides members with job readiness skills, social support and leadership training. The NYC Justice Corps aims to improve the education and employment outcomes of Corps members, keep them out of the criminal justice system, and support community development in specific New York City neighborhoods. Program participants are paid $8-$9 an hour for their participation in the program.
Graduates are now working in fields like weatherization, food service, and construction. Since the start of the program, some 130 participants from Central Brooklyn neighborhoods have been enrolled in the Justice Corps and are completing various program phases that include job readiness, community service and internships. Justice Corps participants have had recent involvement with the criminal justice system (parole, probation and participating in alternative to incarceration program in the past year) and reside in Bedford Stuyvesant and adjacent neighborhoods including Brownsvile, Crown Height and Clinton Hill.
Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer, John Forté, will be the featured keynote speaker and will debut songs from his new EP. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and a Brownsville native, Forté is a classically-trained violinist who is known for his work with the multi-platinum group "The Fugees." On November 24, 2008, Forté was granted a commutation by President George W. Bush after having served more than seven years of a fourteen-year federal prison sentence. Those who campaigned on his behalf include famed singer/songwriter Carly Simon and Senator Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah.
Prior to his incarceration Forté released two solo albums, PolySci (Columbia) and I, John (Transparent). On December 22, 2008, Forté walked out of Fort Dix Correctional Institution to resume his life and tell his story through music, film and prose. In addition to working on his album, Forté is a contributor to The Daily Beast, is writing his memoir to be published by Simon and Schuster, and is working with at-risk youth through organizations such as "In Arms' Reach," a community-based arts, counseling and mentoring program for the children of incarcerated parents.
"I am humbled by the invitation to be the first commencement speaker for NYC Justice Corps - an important youth initiative. By providing hope and a commitment to action, I am confident that the graduates of the program will make our communities stronger."
About Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the nation's first community development corporation, partners with residents and business to improve the quality of life of Central Brooklyn by fostering economic self sufficiency, enhancing family stability and growth, promoting the arts and culture and transforming the neighborhood into a safe, vibrant place to live, work and visit. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Restoration is a dynamic institution that creates significant, sustainable and demonstrable impact in improving the well being of local residents and business.
About the Center for Economic Opportunity
The Center for Economic Opportunity was established by Mayor Bloomberg in 2006 to implement innovative ways to reduce poverty in New York City. Led by Executive Director Veronica White, the CEO works with City agencies to design and implement evidence-based initiatives aimed at poverty reduction. The CEO manages an Innovation Fund through which it provides City agencies annual funding to implement such initiatives and will oversee a rigorous evaluation of each to determine which are successful in demonstrating results towards reducing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency among New Yorkers.
Funding for the NYC Justice Corps is made possible by the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity, the New York City Department of Correction, John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Other support has been made possible by the John Merck Fund and the JP Morgan Chase.
