Current Programs

Seekers - The Seekers Christian Fellowships today is a unique and dynamic cross-denominational model of campus youth ministry comprised of forty-five clubs, consisting of approximately 1,000 students. There are clubs in one out of every four traditional high schools and in both public and private colleges throughout the metropolitan New York area. Each club is initiated and governed by student leaders. On a weekly basis, Seekers meet for bible study, fellowship, prayer, and outreach. The students of Seekers stand out as positive role models for youth leadership, as well as interethnic and cross-denominational unity. In addition to campus-specific events, the students organize two citywide events: an annual Unity Retreat to train young people to promote multi-cultural unity, and Jesus Day-a tool to mobilize students to share their faith with classmates.

BronxConnect BronxConnect is a community-based alternative-to-incarceration program for court-involved youth. BronxConnect works with youth with open court cases who are facing incarceration unless a suitable community-based alternative can be found. By providing court advocacy, case management, mental health services, and other support services, BronxConnect has achieved a 75% success rate in preventing youth from returning to the system. BronxConnect also matches men and women from the Bronx faith community in mentoring relationships with young people.

The Workforce Development Institute The Workforce Development Institute is a response to the crisis of unemployment in the South Bronx, particularly among young men of color. The Workforce Development Institute provides job readiness training and job placement to individuals with little or no work history. The Esperanza Trabajando initiative provides job training and placement to adjudicated and at-risk youth and has achieved the highest job placement and retention rates in this national demonstration. The Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative provides job training and placement to young adults returning home after a period of incarceration. Through a partnership with Bronx Community Solutions, a new diversion court in the Bronx, the Workforce Development Institute provides employment as a short-term alternative-to-incarceration for misdemeanor offenders. The Workforce Development Institute also serves hundreds of community members seeking employment.

SUCCESS The Success program is an afterschool tutoring and literacy initiative for youth in the South Bronx. Launched in 2005 with support from the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, the Success program provides academic support to 6^th and 7^th graders at the Academy of Public Relations (MS 298) who are at risk of academic failure. With an intense focus on literacy, the program helps students make gains measured by the Developmental Reading Assessment, a state standardized tool used to measure improvements in reading. The program also helps students achieve gains in academic performance and attendance. The program recruits college students to serve as volunteer tutors for middle school youth.

BRIDGES TO FREEDOM The Bridges to Freedom program is a curriculum-based outreach that provides workshops and support groups for youth and young adults in city detention facilities. Using a cognitive-behavioral approach, Bridges to Freedom seeks to transform negative and destructive thought patterns into a positive mindset, preparing individuals for their return to the community.