BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
JUNE 26, 2013
PRESENT
D. ABRAHAM P. BELLENBAUM E. FELDER
C. RYAN B. SOLOTAIRE S. TURET
R. UNDERWOOD
EXCUSED:
J. BERNARD E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ A. DAVILA
E.ECHEVARRIA M. KOLMAN M. SCOTT
D. SCOTTO
ABSENT:
R. CERVONE L. HILL M. RUIZ
GUESTS:
J. VOGEL M. LINDSAY A.GILBERT
***MINUTES***
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Red Hook Initiative (RHI) on the programs and services they provide to our local community. Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Red Hook Community Justice Center on the programs and services they provide to our local community.
RHI discussed their Young Adults Program which began in December 2012.
Presenters included:
Jade Elias – Director of Programs Fabiola – Social worker Tiwan Burros – Digital Steward Carlos Viveros – Program assistant Rebecca Fishburne – Program Coordinator Danny Aiken – Social Justice Fellow
Participants must be between the ages of 18-24 and live in the Red Hook community.
The program offers job training and GED classes. The job training includes resume writing, interviewing and other soft skills, as well as placement at local businesses. They currently have 11 business that have hired graduates with Ikea being having taken the most.
The participants get hired for 8-10 hours a week paid for by RHI. The businesses must provide training as well.
52 young adults have been placed so far with IKEA taking 16 of those, ten of which have become full-time jobs.
They also have a Digital Steward program where they have partnered with OTI, Open Technologies Institute, to provide free wi-fi throughout the Red Hook community. They have covered Coffey Park so far. They also took a trip to Detroit recently to share ideas and best practices as well as learn some new skills
Another program is their Social Justice Fellows. These young adults take on local social justice challenges such as the LICH Closing, Stop Question and Frisk, and housing issues. After meeting with the 76th Precinct several times they have seen a decrease in local stops among kids in the area.
Their education program has taken in 15 students with one having passed the GED already.
They need more meetings with businesses that might be willing to hire interns and tech help regarding learning technology skills.
Red Hook Community Justice Center, information presented by Jessica Colon
Launched in June 2000, the Red Hook Community Justice Center is the nation's first multi- jurisdictional community court. It serves juveniles in family, housing and criminal court for misdemeanor charges. Last year they had over 11,000 cases.
They have increased their treatment services for people coming through the system and that are identified as having drug abuse problems or mental health issues. About 2000 cases went through those programs last year.
They report that crime is low in the area with no murders in the area and no reported gunshots since last November.
A recent innovation that they are piloting in New York State is not sending 16 and 17 year olds through the adult court system as they currently are for certain crimes. Instead they are given a chance to be tried as juveniles and upon successful completion of assigned programs their cases are sealed.
They are also developing new Alternative to Incarceration program. And some other programs include GED classes, Art programs and internships.
In the last year the work with the community and NYCHA after Sandy was a great experience and the recent changes to the age limits for offenders being tried as adults were two of the highlights for the year.
They also always need new business to partner with.