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Youth Justice Action Month
October is Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM), 31 days to advocate for youth justice in Baltimore, where structural racism and concentrated poverty create injustices for young people every day, on every life front. Youth justice is when all youth can access the opportunities they need to thrive.
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In October 2019, the Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success partnered with the Baltimore City Council to pass a resolution to declare October Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM) in Baltimore—and to create a citywide focus on youth injustice and, specifically, how the lack of access to opportunities and resources—driven by systemic inequities, disinvestment and bias—contributes to disproportionate arrests among youth of color in Baltimore. |
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To mark YJAM this year, MOCFS partnered with the Youth Diversion workgroup of the Baltimore Children’s Cabinet. Together, we created a range of opportunities to engage with #YJAM2021—from Bmore on Youth Justice, a youth justice podcast on Spotify to an awareness-building social media campaign @gothedistancebmore, a #youthjustice action kit and a series of activities with city students to lift up youth voice on youth justice. Check it all out at www.bmorechildren.com/yjam2021. |
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BPD: Strengthening Interactions with Youth
As part of its responsibilities under the Consent Decree, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) is updating its youth-related policies and preparing for training in January. To mark YJAM and inform the upcoming training, BPD staff members of the Children’s Cabinet Youth Diversion workgroup reviewed the policies with youth.
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On October 21, Lt. Jenkins, Commander of Community Youth Services, met with 15 students from two West Baltimore schools, Bluford Drew STEM Jemison Academy and Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts. Some highlights from the meeting:
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After the BPD policy review, the Bluford and Augusta Fells students promoted YJAM awareness by writing state lawmakers, urging them to include in upcoming legislation—and to pass—all of the juvenile justice reform recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Reform Council. We look forward to continuing to advocate with our Bluford and Augusta Fells partners during the 2022 legislative session. |
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Mentoring → Youth Justice
A mentor can be the difference between a young person accessing critical resources and opportunities, or not. At the Mayor’s Youth Summit in May, we heard from many youth about the need for more mentors. Baltimore City Public Schools’ Future Ready initiative aims to support students in grades 9-10 with their college and career preparation, and City Schools needs mentors to do this critical work. Mentors will meet with students weekly to guide them through a career prep curriculum and will focus on strengthening their relationship building skills.
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@bmorechildren | #loveoverfear
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