The JK Movement

In 2024, The JK Movement (JKM) continued advancing its mission to inspire and empower effective change in the hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies of Black and BIPOC youth with generational trauma from the Rondo community. JKM's work remained centered in three core pillars of service: Self-Empowerment, Career Pathway Corridor initiatives, and Community Engagement. Across all areas, JKM served approximately 1,400 youth through healing-centered, culturally grounded, and developmentally aligned services.Self-Empowerment and Healing-Centered Engagement: JKM completed organization-wide implementation of Healing-Centered Engagement (HCE), becoming the only healing-centered certified youth-serving organization in the Twin Cities. Staff integrated HCE principles into daily programming, youth navigation, volunteer onboarding, and staff development. The Youth Engagement Squad (YES), an advisory policy- strategic planning youth group was established to expand peer leadership opportunities, enabling young people to serve as Lived Experience Pathway Advocates and Ambassadors and develop conflict mediation, communication, and leadership skills. Regular self-empowerment groups, and a variety of life-skills sessions supported youth in strengthening resilience, identity, and well-being, while individualized support addressed issues such as housing instability, family crises, school challenges, and exposure to community violence. Career Pathway Corridor Earning, Learning, and Employment Initiatives: Career Pathway Corridor programming served youth across multiple hands-on and tech-focused career experiences, including digital gaming, coding, STEM labs, content creation, sports leadership, culinary arts, and digital entrepreneurship. The implementation of the Digital gaming cohort module was implemented with support from Comcast; young people in the cohort are now participating in regional competitions in gaming. The Earning & Learning model continued to provide opportunities for youth to gain paid employment experience while building workforce readiness skills. JKM strengthened pathways to postsecondary and career opportunities through individualized assistance with first-time employment, apprenticeship exploration, FAFSA navigation, and college or training program enrollment. Planning also advanced for a redesigned career portal to increase youth access to jobs, resources, and mentor connections. Community Engagement and Violence Prevention: JKM maintained a strong daily presence at the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, providing a consistent safe haven for youth after school, evenings, weekends, and throughout the summer. The organization expanded community-based programming focused on reducing isolation and promoting positive peer networks, belonging, and pro-social activities. Staff enhanced safety and violence-prevention efforts, including training in gun violence awareness and shooter prevention to further protect youth and support safe community spaces. JKM delivered multiple high-impact community events and services, including youth showcases, cultural activities, food distributions, and essential needs support such as transportation assistance, meals, and basic necessities for youth and families. More than 500 families were served in the holiday toy give-away partnership effort. JKM's 2024 accomplishments reflect a continued commitment to creating pathways for youth to be safe, supported, confident, and prepared for future success. Through healing-centered self-empowerment, comprehensive workforce development, and strong community engagement, JKM strengthened its service to the Rondo community and advanced long-term opportunities for Black and BIPOC youth.