LIVE Change Program VUU

November 4, 2016 by Youth Outreach Services

The Virginia Union University Sydney Lewis School of Business (SLSB) is proud to partner with Youth Corporation, Incorporated to launch “Live Change”, a program designed to educate, mentor, and advocate on behalf of at risk youth in the Richmond Metropolitan Area who are faced with challenges that could potentially prevent them from transitioning from high school into college or other careers that could assist them in becoming a part of the economic fabric of the Richmond Metropolitan Area. The program is designed to prevent the pipeline from high school to incarceration.

“Live Change “is being managed by interns in the Sydney Lewis School of Business under the direction of Dr. Delta R. Bowers. The founder of Youth Corporation, Incorporated, Ms. Elizabeth Charity, introduced the idea to the SLSB as an opportunity for the SLSB student interns to manage and run the company from conception to deployment and serve as mentors to the students. The student interns are engaged with real life experiences inclusive of opening a bank account with Towne Bank, developing the Bylaws, meeting with politicians and community leaders, interviewing with radio and television outlets, public relations and social media campaign, and engaging with law enforcement officials. Ms. Charity, an advocate for juveniles believes that this model of involving college students in the conversation and the advocacy for endangered at risk youth could prove to be a significant change in the landscape to thwart the pipeline for youth from high school to incarceration. Dr. Delta R. Bowers, who oversees the interns in the SLSB believes that engaging young men and women who are college students in the process of preventing the high school to incarceration pipeline is transformative and could potentially reverse the mass incarceration of youth who have the potential to be significant contributors to society opening-checking-acc-at-bank radio-broadcast-liz-and-kenneth-3 using-the-arts-to-restore-dignity-and-rights-1 sheriff-woody-2

Students LIVE Change and Loving It

February 16, 2016 by Youth Outreach Services

LIVE Change 1 There was a buzz in the air as the students met on Saturday, February 13, 2016 in the new addition of Fenwick Library at the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University (GMU) and took ownership of The Student LIVE (Lead, Invent, Venture, Express) Change Program. It is moving forward in an awesome way. The students have the opportunity to meet with The Office of Senator Jeremy McPike, 29th District, Senate of Virginia, General Assembly Building, Office 317 during the General Assembly session on March 3, 2016 to share their model of “Stop the Education Pipeline to Jail Program,” offering a solution to reduce recidivism in Virginia. Nina Motazedi shared the students’ model in GMU’s Fourth Estate Newspaper article, “New center provides place for Mason students to mentor at-risk youth.”

Daniel Lavelle, is the project leader and doing a fantastic job as he helps design the model. He is obtaining his degree in Psychology at GMU. He is also the single parent of one son, Gabriel Lavelle. Joining him are Samantha Singh, pursuing her Bachelor’s of Integrative Studies with a concentration in Law and Virginia Rose Lowe who is obtaining a degree in Education and doing community services hours for Youth Outreach Services. Her community services hours will help her learn how to run a non-profit organization and how to raise funds for it. Whereas, Kendra Mungra, a junior at GMU and majoring in Business Marketing will learn more about the fundraising side with Youth Corporation, Inc., the for-profit stock holding company and is responsible for helping to raise funds for the project by contacting businesses to become involved with Reality Education Television (RETV). They will become business mentors and help the students create commercials by giving workshops in their field of expertise. The businesses will also appear on the Hall of Fame in the television studio in the newly built facility. Kendra found out about the project by reading the above article in GMU’s Fourth Estate Newspaper.

Live Change 2

The Student LIVE (Lead, Invent, Venture, Express) Change Program also has the opportunity to go to The Gold Room, 2168 Rayburn House Office Building on March 23 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm to tape the event which will air on Reality Education TV (RETV) and other local television stations. Click Here for more info on the Mid-Tier Advocacy Inc., Briefing on Capitol Hill. Please email me if you have any questions.

When you decide to become a mentor to those who face social injustices and are challenged with the law you help stop the education pipeline to jail and reduce recidivism. Here are some of the responsibilities to help them find hope and to have a better life:

Attend weekly training classes with a student majoring in Psychology (The Mentor Coordinator) and will do an under-study under Dr. Reston Bell, the Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Dr. Faye Taxman, Professor and Director of George Mason University Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, Department of Criminology, Law and Society for the weekly training classes.
3 hours a week (3 hours at one time or 1 hour 3 times a week ) for 5 weeks
Monthly mentor-coordinator meeting: The Mentor Coordinator has the lead role in managing training sessions, logistics, developing curriculum and training materials, facilitating the session, and processing the training evaluation forms. Session should be conducted by program staff along with outside experts, parents/caretakers, and business mentors currently in the program.
Quarterly required In –service Training Sessions. Once matched, each mentor and mentee must attend at least two in-services training sessions during the course of the year.
Mentor, Mentee and caregiver/parent guardian in-service sessions will be offered quarterly.
Upon completion of training with the Monthly Mentor-Coordinator Meeting, the college students will be assigned to alternative schools, detention centers, youth shelters and other designated organizations in their area.

We are seeking mentors; adults, business owners, and college students. We need college students who major in music, business, communication, filming and editing. And we are seeking investors who wants to purchase shares of stock in our company, Youth Corporation, Inc., to help build the facility and help the college students and their mentees to experience Student LIVE (Lead, Invent, Venture, Express) Change.

Please email elizabeth.charity@yciyos.org for more information.

Give to Lead, Invent, and Venture Express Change- Live Change

January 21, 2016 by Youth Outreach Services

Business Social innovation is what our college students are doing to raise money to purchase property, design a building and build a non-traditional career center to create jobs and to help stop the education pipeline to jail in Virginia . Please review the video and help lead, invent, and venture to express change and live. Maybe you don’t have the time to mentor now, you don’t have the expertise in counseling, but you can give………

To help students in colleges across the state ( George Mason University, College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Howard University) to become counselors and mentors . You can give on this website or you can give at http://www.wesharecrowdfunding.com/echarity.

Our Teens are crying for Help and they need the help, please read the article

http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_9003d120-f3e8-5f76-8dec-dc6a0a6d75aa.html

Review the video and find out how universities and businesses are coming together to help make it happen . Please hit the donation button below . No amount is too small. Thanks for helping us to LIVE.

Live Change

January 6, 2016 by Youth Outreach Services

GMU Students Job readiness Program Alexander Powell, majoring in psychology, is one of George Mason University students who attended Youth Outreach Services , ” Stop the Education Pipeline to Jail.” He wants to mentor and implement the job readiness mentor/ personal development program to Youth Outreach Services clients. Also in attendance were Samantha Singh, Phebe Ciemny , both from George Mason University and Kwasi Brobbey from Northern Virginia Community College. From the workshops, they created a slogan describing of how to stop the education pipeline to jail. It was Live Change, which means; lead, invent, venture , express change. They are researching the statistics of recidivism and helping to design the job readiness mentor program. George Mason University Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, as an expert in correctional program, will work closely with the program to integrate evidence-based practices and treatments. George Mason University Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence provided $100,000.00 in kind support for guidance in evidence-based programming, quality assurance for program components and evaluation support. This is based on the contributions of Dr. Faye S. Taxman and her team of researchers. Samantha Singh who major is in disciplinary studies , with a concentration in Law is one of the students who will research the evidence-based practices and treatments. Phebe Ciemny, is the social media who will help report the research results to the local court system. Kwasi Brobbery is majoring in business, who is helping to recruit businesses to come and provide workshops to be air on Reality Education Television (RETV) for positive publicity and be a part of the small business incubators in the non-traditional career center. The students will work with professionals to help design and build the non-traditional career center . The students have an opportunity to do a presentation on this project at the State Department of Juvenile Justice on January 11, 2016 at 9:30 am, Main Street Centre, 600 East Main Street -12th Floor Conference Room North, Richmond, VA 23219.

Creating the Poster for Youth Outreach Services Program – Reducing Recidivism by Live Change.

Benefits and Investments: Cheaper to Educate than to Incarcerate

January 14, 2015 by Youth Outreach Services

Eugene Brown, Director of Youth Outreach Services Community Outreach, DeMaine Jones, Personal Banker, SunTrust, Speaker of the House Bill Howell, Policy Director Virginia Reform Initiative , Elizabeth Charity, CEO and Founder Youth Outreach Services, James Doran- George Mason University Intern, Social Worker/Policy Maker

The State is putting in a Budget Amendment for Youth Outreach Services’ program “Reducing Recidivism.” This is the result from meeting with Senator Colgan, Delegate Michael Futrell, and Delegate Lingamfelter in August, 2014. The Speaker of the House Delegate Bill Howell, Policy Director Virginia Reform Initiative gave Youth Outreach Services the opportunity to share its’ proposal for reducing recidivism through education, employment and rehabilitation (Transforming the ex-juvenile offender into an entrepreneur). It is an inclusive package with communities’ involvement, education and community services through the universities. If the budget amendment is approved, George Mason University will administrate the grant.

DeMaine Jones, Ryan M. Galloway, Legislature Assistance, Delegate Richard L. Anderson, Committee Chair: Science and Technology, Elizabeth Charity, James Doran, Eugene Brown

DeMaine Jones, Personal Banker, Ryan M. Galloway, Legislature Assistance, Delegate Richard L. Anderson, Committee Chair: Science and Technology, Elizabeth Charity, CEO and Founder of Youth Outreach Services, James Doran ,GMU Intern, and Eugene Brown , Community Director of Youth Outreach Services.

Due to the cuts in the State Budget, Youth Outreach Services is including the corporations and small businesses through the Chamber of Commerce to help with funding. The business owners will match the state budget with mentoring and financial support. We believe this is a win- win situation for everyone who becomes involved and it can become a model for other states to follow. The end results are as following:

Building Infrastructures: The students and businesses will renovate an old house into a non-tradition career center in Prince William County and the college students, professionals, and their mentors will build a Social Entrepreneur Business Mentoring Center on the 3 acres of property, located at 4291 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge, Virginia.
Proven Statistics: The college students will provide method and analysis research case studies to prove that education is cheaper than incarceration.
Developing Small businesses and Jobs therefore creating economic growth within the county.
Impacting the Youth to become gainful employed and business owners.
Providing an education and career path for all interested youth (14 years old- 24years old) who wants to become involved in social entrepreneurship and vocational training.

Special Speakers for Healing Our Communities Forum

October 14, 2014 by Youth Outreach Services

Here are some of the highlights of Healing Our Communities Forum : Target will have a table to pass out refreshments and have individuals to sign up for seasonal jobs. Janice Yohai will pass out literature to assist individuals to restore voting rights. And Much Much Much More. Come and be a part of the movement ….. Healing Our Communities.

Job Corps and Youth Outreach Services Meets to Discuss Partnership

September 29, 2014 by Youth Outreach Services

Youth Outreach Services and Job Corps are discussing the possibility of partnering together to help provide job training and apprenticeship to at-risk teens ( 16 years to 24 years old) at the nontraditional career center located in Prince William County in Woodbridge, Virginia. Christina Letellier, Admissions Counselor, met with Elizabeth Charity, CEO and Founder of Youth Outreach Services to share what the Virginia Job Corps does to help students to enter into the workforce. You can learn more about the Job Corp by visiting their website at http://www.jobcorps.gov.

Meeting with the Office of Government and Community Relations at George Mason University

September 18, 2014 by Youth Outreach Services

Youth Outreach Services met with Mr. Kerry Bolognese, Director, Federal Relations, with the Office of Government and Community Relations at George Mason University to seek help, in obtaining Federal Funding to reduce recidivism. The funding will help operate and renovate YOS nontraditional Career Center. One of YOS goals is to transform ex-juvenile offenders to social entrepreneurs. As YOS move forward with the project, George Mason University Students are coming involved through GMU Social Entrepreneurship Society as they help YOS staff to do community service outreach. Tameka Casselle, YOS Grant Administrator/Manager and James Doran attended the meeting with Elizabeth Charity, CEO and Founder of the Company. James’ goal is to obtain a Master Degree in Social Work from George Mason University. Presently, he is volunteering his hours to Youth Outreach Services as he attends the University. Here in this picture he is shown with Mr. Angel Cabrera, President of George Mason University. Another one of YOS goals is to turn community services hours at the nontraditional career center into employment for Ex-Juvenile Offenders .

Reducing Recidivism Through Entrepreneurship

September 6, 2014 by Youth Outreach Services

From the Desk of Youth Outreach Services CEO and Founder: Elizabeth Charity

YOS 12 weeks Job Readiness Mentor Program (JRMP) Youth Outreach Services has a proven track record that rehabilitation and mentoring help create entrepreneurs through intervention, prevention, after-care and employment programs. Implementing this program, we includes the private and public sector, the community and college students.

Facts: Research shows that the U.S. prison population has grown exponentially within the past three decades. This amounts to close to $70 billion in annual expenditures related to adult and juvenile incarceration and the supervision of individuals who have been placed on probation and parole. In addition to these staggering numbers is the fact that, close to 75 percent of this spending is occurring on the state level (Hawkins).

Statewide statistics show that, of those who reported their education level, approximately 29 percent of the incarcerated population, as of June 2012, possesses less than a 12^th grade education (Statistical Analysis & Forecast Unit); while 44 percent possess a GED or high school diploma^[1]. Within the Central Region of Virginia, where Youth Outreach Services resides, of those who reported their education level, approximately 24 percent of offenders possess less than a high school education; while 25 percent possess a GED or high school diploma (Statistical Analysis & Forecast Unit). Of the individuals, who fall within the Central Regions area of responsibility, 92 percent are reported to be on parole or probation.

The State of Virginia spends $12,000.00 for education (State by state, Census Bureau’s report on education finances), whereas it spends $24,667.00 for holding a prison in Virginia. It is estimated that annual corrections cost since 2000 have increased by a least $120 million beyond that expected given the state’s population growth. In FY 2008 Virginia taxpayers spent 7.6 percent of the state’s general funds on correction. Virginia has only 1 in 94 adults is under community supervision compared with the national average of 1 in 45. Combining these two statistics a high incarceration rate and a low community supervision rate-shows that 52 percent of Virginia’s adult correctional population is behind bars. Accordingly, this is the fourth highest rate in the country. VA is spending almost 20 times more per day to manage prison inmates than to supervise offenders in the community (www.rightoncrime.com/reforms-in-action). These figures do not include those incarcerated or on probation or parole supervision for misdemeanor offenses.

Meet some of the individuals who have participated in YOS 12 week Job Readiness Mentor Program as a Mentor, College Intern, Executive Director, and a Juvenile Offender.

I met Eduardo Ostos in the Juvenile Detention Center in Prince William County, Virginia. The prosecuting lawyer wanted to send Eduardo to the State Department of Juvenile Justice. Eduardo’s lawyer introduced Youth Outreach Services 12 weak Job Readiness Mentor Program to the Judge. The Judge ruled in favor of Eduardo participating in YOS program. Eduardo turned his life around. He received the Beat the Odds Award, did community service through YOS and receive a letter of achievement from the Honorable Congressman Gerald E. Connolly.

Eddie Ostos, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Antoine Harris, YOS Chairman of the Board.

Elizabeth Charity, CEO and Founder with the Honorable Judge Paul Gluchowski, Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Court who court order Eddie to Youth Outreach Services Job Readiness Mentor Program.

Ex-Executive Director of Youth Outreach Services- Travis Harris

Travis is my son who has a passion for ministry, people, and knowledge. Travis Harris is an high achiever and has always been energetic about ministry and humanity. He became Youth Outreach Services’ first Executive Director at the age of 19 years old. At 14 years old, Travis had quite a portfolio; he helped to produce the local television program , “ Community Involvement Showcase,” in Richmond, Virginia , where he helped host a weekly television show. He also did radio broadcasting, where he and his friends talked about social issues which included black on black issues in the neighborhood; injustice and ministry in the community. During the summer while he was at the University of Virginia, Travis helped to develop the 12 week job readiness program and implemented it in Prince William Juvenile Detention Center. He graduated from University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Religion. He further his education with a Master Degree in Divinity from Virginia Union University and is now studying for this PhD in African America Studies at the University of William and Mary. Including in his list of many accomplishments, which is the most important to him is that he is a father to his two beautiful daughters Grace and Faith Harris and a devoted husband to his wife Destiney Harris.

GMU College Interns: Raj Panth, Alan Boyce, and James Doran

Raj Panth is a very ambitious young man, who has goals and dreams. I met him at George Mason University and I was looking for someone to help implement the 12 week job readiness mentor program during the summer of 2013. Raj Path was the candidate and we had an awesome summer where we did video production and RETV (Reality Education Television) was birth. Reality Education Television is where we take the education out of the classroom and bring it into the community. One of the social issues we addressed was the transformation of the ex-juvenile offenders into social entrepreneurs. Raj Path had the opportunity to create a video tape that featured Arnold Harvey, who was stabbed to death and left to die on the street, but he survived. He is now an author of the book, “Every Decision Matters,” and a Motivational Speaker. You must read the book, it is an inspiring book. You can see Raj Path video production on www.youtube.com RETV. It is called “Transformation.” Raj Panth now works as an Intern, Chief Information Officer at Executive Office Of the President of the United States

Raj Panth and Alan Boyce came as a pair. I was double blessed. Raj did the video production and Alan Boyce did the interviewing. Alan interviewed lawyers, authors, and businessman at our Fundraising event at Columbus Grill, 8349 Centreville Rd, Manassas, Virginia. Alan wants to be a television journalist and Youth Outreach Services job readiness mentor program gave him the opportunity to get on the job training in that field. We submitted some of our television productions to DC50-WDCW Channel 50 Television and it was accepted to be air. Youth Outreach Services could not afford the airing time on DC50-WDCW at that particular time.

I met James Doran ( YOS intern and mentor) at the STAR Lab at George Mason University. We both were studying for spring examines. He sits down next to me and I began to share with him my BIS project on Reducing Recidivism. He volunteered immediately and said this is something he wants to help me with as a summer intern with Youth Outreach Services. James Doran is a Sociology Major and is working on his Master Degree in it with a Minor Degree in Public Policy. He wants to change some of the Public Policy laws especially those targeting juvenile recidivism. During his internship, he had the opportunity to meet Prince William County Board of Supervisor John Jenkins, Delegate Scott Lingamfelter of Prince William County, Delegate Michael Futrell, with Stafford and Prince William County, Senator Charles Colgan and Richard H.Buchholz, Gang Response Intervention Team (GRIT) Coordinator. He also helped to update the objectives and goals of the 12 week job readiness mentor program and revised YOS 5 weeks assessment program.

Moving Forward- Youth Outreach Services Introduced the Re-entry Program to William Stephens, Regional Re-Entry Specialist – Tameka Casselle, YOS Grant Administrator/Manager and Elizabeth Charity, CEO and Founder

Youth Outreach Services had the opportunity to introduce the re-entry program to Mr. William Stephens Regional Re-Entry Specialist from the Department of Juvenile Justice. He took time from his busy schedule to come to Prince William County and tour Youth Outreach Services Non-traditional Career center. Renovating the facility is therapeutically training, job training, business development, entrepreneurial training, and rehabilitation for the students involved. The Non-traditional Career Center is providing leadership, money management and career planning. Upon completion this facility, it will be a safe-self sustainable facility that offers employment, economic growth and education for the community. Your time and money invested will help build value in people lives and the community and help change Virginia statistics on recidivism which I shared with you earlier in the article. I am thanking you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter and making a donation to help make it happen.

RETV was there to capture the moment at the Great Big Gospel Car Wash

July 26, 2014 by Youth Outreach Services

The Stars of the Great Big Gospel Car Wash were Giant Food, CiCi Pizza, Panera Bread, Target, George Mason University Social Entrepreneurship Society, the Rotary Club- Woodbridge, Virgina, and Dawn Massages, Youth Minister Aaron with Church On the Move in Woodbridge, Virginia, and a group of teenagers from Atlanta, Georgia with their Youth Minister, Thomas. The youth group came all the way from Atlanta Georgia to help Youth Outreach Services raise money for the renovation of the non-traditional career center. We only made a dent in the amount of money needed, but we had an awesome time reaching out in the community. Youth Outreach Services needs $150,000.00 to renovate the facility. Of course Youth Outreach Services Dream Team was there; Chris Archie, Antoine Harris, Frank Jones, James E. Doran and his daughter Katherine, Shaneika Nelson and Elizabeth Charity. If you believe God is putting it on your heart to give, please visit pay pal and give a donation. We are thanking you in advance for all that you do to help create entrepreneurs for the Kingdom of God.

Youth Outreach Services

Creating Social Entrepreneurs

Category Archives: Nontraditional Career Center