MOTHERS FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY INC

THE MISSION OF MOTHERS FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY (MJE) IS TO END NEIGHBORHOOD VIOLENCE BY EMPOWERING MOTHERS AND YOUTH TO CHALLENGE THE NORMALIZATION OF VIOLENCE AND BECOME EFFECTIVE CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE IN THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES. WE ENGAGE MOTHERS, YOUTH, & FAMILIES BY PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR PEACE AS A COMMUNITY. IN 2024 (1/1/24-12/31/24), MJE HAS ACHIEVED MAJOR MILESTONES ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS, SERVING 4,237 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024 AND TOUCHED OVER 3,000 MORE THANKS TO OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS. WE HAD A TOTAL OF 588 WORKSHOPS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS: 43% ADULT EDUCATION & WORKFORCE READINESS, 36.9% HEALTH EQUITY, 18.6% YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND 1.5% GENERAL. OUT OF THE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS, 40.6% WERE MULTIPLE RACES, 37.4% WERE BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, 11.6% WERE HISPANIC/LATINX, 3.3% WERE ASIAN, 1.9% WERE WHITE, AND 10% WERE OTHER OR UNDISCLOSED. 94.3% OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGLISH SPEAKERS, WITH 5.3% SPEAKING SPANISH, HAITIAN CREOLE, OR OTHER. 70% WERE FEMALE AND 30% WERE MALE. ADULT EDUCATION & WORKFORCE READINESS: OUR ADULT EDUCATION & WORKFORCE READINESS DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY TRAUMA AND CHRONIC UNEMPLOYMENT, HELPING THEM BECOME EMPOWERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VIABLE CANDIDATES FOR RE-ENTERING THE WORKFORCE. WE FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF LOW-INCOME CLIENTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND BUILD STABILITY IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. THE ADULT EDUCATION & WORKFORCE READINESS DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS CLIENTS IN OVERCOMING TRAUMA AND BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT THEM FROM LIVING SUCCESSFUL LIVES. IN 2024, WE HAD 257 WORKSHOPS. OF THE WORKSHOPS, 28.9% WERE CAREER READINESS, 26.6% TECHNOLOGY, 16.8% FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, 12.1% PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, 11.3% EVENING WORKSHOPS, 3.1% ORIENTATIONS, AND 1.2% OTHER. OVERALL, 95% OF ADULT EDUCATION CLIENTS GRADUATED FROM OUR COURSES, AND 80% SECURED EMPLOYMENT. WE ALSO OFFERED INCENTIVES FOR THEIR HARD WORK, SUCH AS 250-500 STIPENDS AND CHROMEBOOKS UPON WORKSHOP COMPLETION. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUED THE INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM, AIMING TO ENGAGE WOMEN OF COLOR AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN CIVIC ACTION SO THEY CAN BE THE VOICE OF CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SLOW THE GROWTH OF POVERTY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES COACHING, MENTORING, AND WORKSHOPS TO HELP SOCIAL INDIVIDUALS MOVE BEYOND CONCEPTS AND BUSINESS MODELS WITH SWOT ANALYSIS AND CREATE AN ACTION PLAN. THE YOU MATTER: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED AS AN EIGHT-WEEK EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR TRAINING INDIVIDUALS TO BE CHANGE MAKERS IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ACQUIRE THE SKILLS AND TOOLS NEEDED FOR ENGAGING THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN DIALOGUE, INQUIRY, AND ACTION AS WELL AS THE KNOWLEDGE TO EDUCATE OTHERS WHO ARE INVESTED IN HELPING THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. HEALTH EQUITY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: AT MJE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE RECOVERY OF THE INDIVIDUAL IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY. AFTER EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, ONE MAY INTELLECTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE EVENT WITHOUT RECOGNIZING ITS TRUE IMPACT ON THEIR STATE OF BEING. TRAUMA CAN DISRUPT A PERSON'S SENSE OF BALANCE AND REQUIRES A POSITIVE HEALING ENVIRONMENT TO RESTORE EQUILIBRIUM. COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY ON THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AT MJE. IN 2024, WE HAD 220 WORKSHOPS. OF THE WORKSHOPS, 23.6% WERE YOUNG PARENT PROGRAMS, 11% MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION, 11.8% PEACE UNIT, 11.8% EMPOWERMENT CHATS, 10.6% YOU MATTER, 8.7% FINANCE, 8.1% HEALING THROUGH THE ARTS, 6.7% COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, 5.6% CAREER READINESS, AND 1.9% ORIENTATION. OVERALL, 95% OF CLIENTS GRADUATED FROM OUR HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAMS. WE PARTNERED WITH BRIGHAM WOMEN AND MASS GENERAL TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO OUR YOUNG PARENTS PROGRAM (AGED 14-24). GRADUATES FROM THIS PROGRAM COMPLETED COURSES ON LEADERSHIP, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND MORE THROUGHOUT THE 8-WEEK PROGRAM. GRADUATES RECEIVED A 100 GIFT CARD AND CELEBRATION FOR THEIR EFFORTS. THE STRONGER COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE NURTURES CONNECTIONS, ADVOCATES FOR INCLUSIVITY, AND IGNITES COLLECTIVE GROWTH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RE-ENTERING SOCIETY FROM INCARCERATION. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD 10 COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH OVER 750 PARTICIPANTS. EVENTS INCLUDED OUR MOTHERS AGAINST VIOLENCE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MOTHER'S DAY LUNCHEON, YOUTH BASKETBALL GAME, THANKSGIVING TURKEY DRIVE, CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE, JOB FAIRS, AND MORE. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (AGES 24 AND UNDER): AT MJE, OUR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE BY EMPOWERING YOUTH TO LEAD, HEAL FROM TRAUMA, AND ENTER THE WORKFORCE. THROUGH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING, WE EQUIP YOUTH WITH THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE. IN 2024, WE HAD 111 WORKSHOPS. OF THE WORKSHOPS, 28.8% WERE AT THE YOUTH PEERLEADERSHIP PROGRAM, 32.4% STEM, 19.8% CAREER READINESS, 6.3% FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, 5.4% HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, 4.5% COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND 2.7% OTHER. MJE EMPOWERS YOUTH THROUGH LEADERSHIP, TRAUMA RECOVERY, AND WORKFORCE READINESS. OUR YOUTH PEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AGES 14-18, INSPIRES AND EQUIPS YOUNG LEADERS WITH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH SKILL- BUILDING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A 15/HOUR STIPEND AND HAVE SESSIONS DURING THE SUMMER AND SCHOOL YEAR. TWO OF OUR MOST NOTABLE EVENTS OF 2024 WERE THE STEM IN THE PARK ACTIVITIES, COMBINING SERVICE LEARNING WITH ACADEMICS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH, ALONGSIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND THE YOUTH BASKETBALL GAME AT NORFOLK PARK IN MATTAPAN, A FREE, FAMILY- FRIENDLY, PUBLIC EVENT BROUGHT OVER 100 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.