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Community Organization
The Youth Empowerment Mission, Inc. (YEM), a non-profit organization is seeking two diligent, highly motivated college-age students to participate in a community outreach project to raise awareness about juvenile justice reform. This is a rewarding and enriching opportunity to achieve valuable work experience on a key policy matter affecting low-income neighborhoods throughout New York City.
About the Juvenile Justice Initiative
Recent policy changes have created an opportunity for community-based organizations to play a bigger role in how young people under the care of the juvenile justice system are serviced. The city is calling for more interagency collaboration and coordination with community-based organizations to provide “alternative to incarceration” programs and services to youth. This policy change is predicated on the belief that young people benefit the most when they are able to remain in their homes and receive community-based interventions to address their personal, behavior and social issues. In response to these policy changes, YEM is launching a communications and outreach campaign to achieve the following goals:
- raise awareness about the need to end unnecessary youth confinement;
- provide intervention and rehabilitative services to youth in crisis through work with schools, agencies, and the legal system;
- provide training and strategies to community-based programs to increase their ability to work with young people coming out of the juvenile justice system; and
- educate and train a cadre of youth and community members to speak out on issues related to juvenile justice.
Intern Roles and Responsibilities
The Community Outreach Intern is a PAID position that will play a key role in all aspects of this project. Each Intern will work for twenty hours per week each for a period of ten weeks, from June to August, 2008. Duties of the interns will include:
- Planning and scheduling meetings with judges, court and law enforcement officials, parents, schools, politicians and service providers in the community;
- assisting in the planning of a youth summit around juvenile justice, featuring a panel of young people;
- organizing letter-writing or telephone campaign to give youth a voice in issues related to juvenile justice reform;
- conducting presentations to peer groups to share information about juvenile justice reform and how it may impact the community’s youth.
Qualifications
Ideal candidates are college-age, with an interest in social services, public administration, or other related fields. Strong communications and community organizing skills are a must. In addition to enrolled college students, older youth who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system and are interested in sharing their stories are encouraged to apply.
To Apply
Fax your resume to 718-857-4234, attention “Juvenile Justice Project,” or click here. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
