AVENUES FOR JUSTICE INC

AVENUES FOR JUSTICE (AFJ) SERVES TWO MAIN GROUPS OF PARTICIPANTS IN NEW YORK CITY, AGES 13 TO 24: 1) "COURT-INVOLVED" PARTICIPANTS, WHICH INCLUDES THOSE WHO HAVE ACTIVE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ARE DIVERSION (YOUNGER PARTICIPANTS REFERRED BY NYC FAMILY COURT FOR SHORTER MANDATES), ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED, OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REENTRY FROM A DETENTION CENTER; AND 2) "AT-RISK" PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE AT-RISK OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR WHO RECEIVE SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE OR REFERRALS TO THIRD PARTY SPECIALISTS BETTER SUITED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. AFJ'S MISSION REMAINS URGENT AS THE ROOT CAUSES OF JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, POVERTY, OVER-POLICING, AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES CONTINUE TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH, WHO ARE NEARLY FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR WHITE PEERS TO BE DETAINED. IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REACHED 5.1% IN MARCH 2025WELL ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGEYOUNG ADULTS AGED 1824 FACE A STAGGERING 13.6% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WITH BLACK, LATINO, AND IMMIGRANT NEW YORKERS HIT HARDEST. THESE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, COUPLED WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND STABLE EMPLOYMENT, PLACE COURT-INVOLVED AND AT-RISK YOUTH AT HEIGHTENED RISK. AFJ'S HIRE UP PROGRAM ADDRESSES THESE BARRIERS THROUGH COURT ADVOCACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JOB CERTIFICATIONS, AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND BUILD SUSTAINABLE FUTURES. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024:PARTICIPATION & GROWTH: AFJ EXCEEDED ITS ANNUAL GOAL, SERVING 674 PARTICIPANTS371 COURT-INVOLVED (ATI, RE-ENTRY, AND DIVERSION) AND 303 AT-RISK YOUTH. THIS INCLUDED A RECORD 217 NEW COURT-INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS, HIGHLIGHTING OUR EXPANDING REACH.HIRE UP PROGRAM: ALL PARTICIPANTS ACCESSED SERVICES THROUGH HIRE UP, WHICH INCLUDES JOB READINESS, CERTIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, LEGAL RIGHTS, AND WELLNESS SUPPORT. IN 2024, AFJ HELD 27 WORKSHOPS WITH 3,450 TOTAL ATTENDANCES FROM 502 PARTICIPANTS, AVERAGING NEARLY 7 SESSIONS PER PARTICIPANT.CERTIFICATIONS: AFJ OFFERED FREE CERTIFICATIONS TO PARTICIPANTS AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING OSHA-30, SITE SAFETY, FLAGGERS, SCAFFOLDING, CPR, FOOD HANDLER, AND SECURITY LICENSES. IN TOTAL, PARTICIPANTS EARNED 44 OSHA, 44 SITE SAFETY, 20 FLAGGERS, 20 SCAFFOLDING, 5 SECURITY, 3 FOOD HANDLER, AND 161 DIGITAL LITERACY CERTIFICATES. OUR LARGEST OSHA COHORT, 19 PARTICIPANTS, COMPLETED FOUR CERTIFICATIONS IN JUNE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SET 360 LLC, THESE TRAININGS SUPPORT COMPLIANCE WITH NYC'S LOCAL LAW 196 AND OPEN PATHWAYS INTO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.GENDER-RESPONSIVE EXPANSION: IN FALL 2024, AFJ PARTNERED WITH THE POSITIVE LEARNING CENTER IN HARLEM TO EXPAND TRAINING ACCESS. NOTABLY, 50% OF PARTICIPANTS IN THIS COHORT WERE YOUNG WOMEN, REFLECTING OUR FOCUS ON INCLUSIVE, GENDER-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING.GENDER-RESPONSIVE EXPANSION: IN FALL 2024, AFJ PARTNERED WITH THE POSITIVE LEARNING CENTER IN HARLEM TO EXPAND TRAINING ACCESS. NOTABLY, 50% OF PARTICIPANTS IN THIS COHORT WERE YOUNG WOMEN, REFLECTING OUR FOCUS ON INCLUSIVE, GENDER-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING.PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS & REFERRALS: AFJ INTRODUCED A DIGITAL REFERRAL FORM IN JUNE 2024, IMPROVING INTAKE AND TRACKING. WE RECEIVED OVER 120 REFERRALS, WITH THE BRONX LEADING (60), FOLLOWED BY MANHATTAN (30), QUEENS (21), BROOKLYN (5), AND STATEN ISLAND (4). THE INCREASE IN OUTER BOROUGH REFERRALS UNDERSCORES A CITYWIDE NEED FOR AFJ'S SERVICES, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ACS DETENTION OVERPOPULATION. AFJ CONTINUES TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ACTION PLANS, WEEKLY COURT UPDATES, AND HYBRID PROGRAMMING, REINFORCING OUR VALUE AS A TRUSTED ALTERNATIVE-TO-INCARCERATION RESOURCE.