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| Youth anti-violence program could take months to roll out, company says
The centerpiece of Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman's plan to quell youth violence across the city - jobs and mentors for 200 of the city's troubled youth - could be mired in start-up mode for months before it launches. Why won't the Chicago Public Schools let The Black Star Project mentor Black youth? | | Kelsey Snell/MEDILL
State Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) greets Fenger High School Principal Elizabeth Dozier. An anti-youth violence program was approved the day before Fenger student Derrion Albert was killed.
Youth anti-violence program could take months to roll out, company says
by Adam Wren
Nov 10, 2009
The centerpiece of Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman's plan to quell youth violence across the city - jobs and mentors for 200 of the city's troubled youth - could be mired in start-up mode for months before it launches.
Similar initiatives in other cities have taken up to four months to get off the ground once a contract has been inked, says an official with the company the district has chosen to provide jobs and mentors for at-risk youths. But critics of the plan say Chicago organizations could provide the same services to troubled youths today.
"We try to get up and running in three to four months," said Dorienne Silva, president of the Pennsylvania-based Youth Advocate Programs' Southeast region, who is busy spearheading the launch of a Mobile, Ala., advocate program. "If it takes longer, it takes longer, but we're very experienced."
Silva said the Mobile advocate program, which was announced earlier this year, is still busy hiring staff and looking for office space. Silva expects the operation to open its doors in December. She said larger programs like the one in Chicago could take even longer to get underway.
But a multi-month rollout is not good enough for Phillip Jackson, executive director of the Chicago-based Black Star Project. His 13-year-old organization specializes in mentoring low-income black and Latino youths who attend underachieving schools in the city, according its Web site. Black Star does not currently provide job placement as part of its work, but Jackson says it could.
"There's no more time," Jackson said. "We can have our mentors on the streets today, today. We could be getting jobs for young people today."
Jackson was one of dozens of protesters who gathered under the flash of cameras at City Hall last month to protest while Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder spoke on youth violence in a nearby conference room. He said he is frustrated officials have turned a blind eye to Chicago-area organizations in combating youth violence.
"The solution to problems in Chicago are in Chicago," said Jackson. "There are literally 100 organizations that are doing the work they say they want to do. There are people who are already doing the work successfully and not being funded."
Huberman has publicly defended his decision to contract with the Pennsylvania-based company, saying Chicago organizations would be part of the district's overall anti-youth violence.
"The research on this organization and what they've achieved is promising," Huberman told school board members at their September meeting. "That's why taking this organization, in conjunction with local organizations in Chicago, in partnership it's going to take all of us."
The $5 million proposal was awarded to the company by Chicago's school board on Sept. 23, the day before the brutal beating death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert.
It's part of a larger $30 million effort by the district to create what Huberman calls a "culture of calm." Huberman has said he wants to foster safer school environments. Both programs will be funded by one-time infusions of federal stimulus dollars over two years.
Since September, the district has been largely silent on details of the program's roll out. School officials did not return multiple messages left with central-office staff over two weeks seeking details on the program's roll out and a copy of the contract with Youth Advocate Programs.
Minette Bauer, deputy CEO of Youth Advocate Programs, was in Chicago last week hammering out details of the program, she said. Bauer declined to disclose specifics. She said her company and Chicago schools plan to announce the start of the program jointly once it's ready.
The anti-violence program was endorsed last week by the New York Times and was praised for its innovative approach to using statistics to prevent youth violence. And the company's internal statistics posted on their Web site trumpet impressive results: 89 percent of the students enrolled in their programs stay out of trouble while enrolled.
But Youth Advocate Programs' chief of quality assurance Alan Kassirer, who is in charge of tracking the company's outcomes, refused to provide Medill Reports a copy of their data that yielded those statistics.
Dorienne Silva acknowledged the company has only recently started to track the success of students once they leave advocate programs.
"We have a very high success rate while they are with us," Silva said.
But Black Star's Jackson, who said he wonders when Chicago youths will actually get a chance to benefit from the jobs and mentors promised to them, is upset it's taking so long to get the program off the ground.
"I'm not frustrated that they haven't went with the Black Star Project, I'm frustrated that children are dying," Jackson said. "While the powers that be try to figure out what to do, more children are dying." | | Street Positive and the Million Father Movement Encourages Southern California to Hear Former NBA Great Jerry West Speak on the "Power of Mentoring" | | NBA Legend Jerry West To Visit Inland Empire to Discuss Youth & Mentoring
He was so impressive as a player his silhouette is used as the figure for the NBA emblem. He is the only player in NBA history to win the NBA finals Most Valuable Player even though being on the losing team. Inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1980, Jerry West is one of the top 50 greatest players to ever play the game.
As a general manager he was the architect of the 1980's Lakers "showtime", bringing together Magic Johnson, Kareem Abduhl Jabbar and James Worthy to become one of the winningest teams in NBA franchise history. In the 90's he did it again by signing Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'neal to the Lakers to win three championships in a row.
And, now it's your turn to meet this NBA great as he speaks on the "Power of Mentoring" right here in the "Inland Empire."  R.S.V.P. - ASAP! Only 800 seats available Hosted by: Life Changing Mentoring Program (In association with San Bernardino and Rialto School Districts) at San Bernardino High School 1850 N. E St.
San Bernardino, California on December 3, 2009 at 6pm Admission: FREE - youth and caregivers are encouraged to attend. To RSVP, contact Life Changing Mentoring at - This event and opportunity was brought to our attention by: Terry Boykins
Executive of Business Affairs | African Women Public Service Fellowship at New York University | | Global Public Service Fellowships
African Women Public Service Fellowship
Wagner announces a call for applications for the African Women Public Service Fellowship, a fellowship program made possible by a donation from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, which expands the opportunity for African women to prepare for public service in their home countries. As fellows at NYU Wagner, African women study in one of two graduate programs: the two-year Master of Public Administration or the one-year Executive MPA: Concentration on International Public Service Organizations. The awards for either program will support tuition, housing, travel to and from the United States and a small stipend to cover books and miscellaneous expenses. Applicants commit to return to their respective home countries at the conclusion of the program with the goal of assuming a leadership position on the continent where they can meaningfully contribute to the challenges currently confronting Africa.
Who Should Apply To qualify for the Fellowship, prospective applicants must meet the general admissions criteria stipulated here and be citizens and resident in an African country at the time of application. NYU Wagner's admissions committee pays particular attention to applications from women who possess strong academic records; who have a demonstrated commitment to public service; and for whom a Wagner education would significantly enhance their ability to have a deep and lasting impact on public service issues in their home country and region. Please see the biographies of recent fellows. For more information or to request an NYU Wagner viewbook, visit http://wagner.nyu.edu/admissions/. How to Apply Please visit http://wagner.nyu.edu/admissions/application/ for details on how to apply to NYU Wagner. There are not special forms or applications to fill out to be considered for the African Women Public Service Fellowship. You will automatically be considered for all scholarships, including the African Women Public Service Fellowship. For more information, please contact: Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
295 Lafayette Street, New York, New York, 10012
212-998-7414 | The Black Star Project Supports Hip-Hop Detoxx as they Bring The Real Rick Ross to Chicago to Work on Stopping the Violence and Connecting the Dis-connected. - (Peace in the Hood) | | on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 7:00 p.m. at Muhammad University of Islam 7351 South Stony Island Chicago, Illinois | Join The Brown Boys at IIT in Chicago with Shorties Wanna Live! Peace In the Hood!!! | | | | | Tutoring is not just for students who are behind. It is especially for students who want to excel! Give your child The Black Star edge! - (Peace in the Hood)
| |  | | | | | | | | The Black Star Project | 3473 South King Drive, Box 464 | Chicago | IL | 60616 |  |
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