Queens Defenders Awarded Grant from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz

On Wednesday, November 17th, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced grant funding to 28 community-based organizations for the implementation of her Office’s Community Youth Development and Crime Prevention Project (CYDCPP). The District Attorney’s initiative aims to provide youth activities and wrap around services to help prevent crime and keep young people out of the criminal justice system.

This grant will help fund our Rockaway Community Justice Center – home to a number of programs aimed at teens, most notably the alternative community court. 

Read the full press release here.

Queens DA Grant Award and RCJC Services Featured in the Queens Daily Eagle

On Tuesday, November 23rd, the Queens Daily Eagle featured the Rockaway Community Justice Center's services in an article announcing the District Attorney's Grant.

“[The RCJC panel will] issue a sanction but it won't be like picking up garbage, it's more restorative,” said Brian Schatz, Director of Communications at Queens Defenders. “What we want is for them to learn skills – if they're interested in becoming a barber, we link them up with a barbershop where they can do a couple of hours there and help build social capital and help make connections that could potentially lead towards a job.”

Read the full article here.

Queens Defenders' Justice 456 Initiative Partners with Community Mediation Services' NeON Works Program

Mani Tafari, Staff Attorney at Queens Defenders, and Oral 'Nick' Hillary, Education Specialist at Queens Defenders are co-founders of the Queens Defenders Justice 456 Initiative. Through this program, they educate youth in the community about their constitutional rights provided to them by the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendments.

On Friday, November 19th, Mr. Tafari and Mr. Hillary delivered a Know Your Rights presentation to NeON Works participants and graduates. NeOn Works provides youth and young adults with the opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that result in gainful employment or improved work performance.

For more information about our Justice 456 Initiative, visit queensdefenders.org/justice456.

Meet Andre, Devoted Youth Mentor at Queens Defenders

Andre first came across Queens Defenders when he was in high school at Frederick Douglass Academy VI in Far Rockaway. He volunteered at the Youth Justice Court in his school, and according to him, continued to volunteer so that he could "stay out of trouble." Now, over three years later, Andre works for Queens Defenders full time as a Young Adult Leader.

When he's not working, Andre is in his college classes at LaGuardia Community College, or playing basketball in the community. Andre has even taken his skills to coaching and mentoring younger children in his neighborhood both on and off the court. Andre is dedicated to helping his community and setting an example for younger kids. He is well on his way to making a difference in the lives of many!

Read more about Andre's impact here.

Queens Defenders Offers Restorative Services to Residents of St. John's Home for Boys

For nearly three years, Queens Defenders has partnered with Rockaway Park’s St. John’s Home for Boys to help young men residing in this Close to Home placement develop skills and confidence, learn about the justice system and how it impacts them and their community, and learn about crucial college and career readiness skills that will help them set goals and realize their full potential.

Every week, Queens Defenders staff delivers interactive workshops to the young residents focused on empowerment and positive decision making skills. Through this mentorship, the young men feel a sense of connection to the community they live in. Queens Defenders also offers our Youth Justice Court program at St. John's in an effort to provide restorative services for any young men facing challenging decisions. This partnership continues to grow with a shared mission to improve the lives of residents in the home.

Queens Defenders Hosts Panel Discussion for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

On Wednesday, October 27th, members of the community came together for a panel discussion to bring awareness to Domestic Violence.

Panelists included: Marissa Bernowitz and Saheli Kothari of Queens Defenders, Zena Sawaged, Community Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, and Angelina Rosado, Founder & Executive Director of Returning Hope, Inc.

The event was held in memory of Destini Smothers, a 26-year-old mother of two children from Far Rockaway. Destini’s aunt, Shareen King, joined the panel to share her experiences.

Panelists shared resources in the community for survivors and their family members.

For more about the event, visit here. You can also view the full recording here.

Queens Defenders Featured in Monthly Column in the Rockaway Wave

For over ten years, Queens Defenders has worked in Far Rockaway to extend services to one of the borough's most overlooked communities. For over three of those years, we have had an Outreach Center there. Throughout this time, we have worked to spread the word about our services through many different modes so that we can reach as many people as possible.

Now, we are partnering with the Rockaway Wave to spread the word even further. Queens Defenders now has a monthly column in the paper to raise awareness about our services.

The column, titled "QD Community," features the voice of Brandon Jeffries, Director of Youth Services at Queens Defenders. Every month, Brandon shares information about different services Queens Defenders has to offer.

Read the August and September columns here. Keep an eye out for the next column in the Rockaway Wave!