Center for Education for Liberation

The Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ) Center for Education for Liberation works with youth to build academic skills and look critically at their lives and society. YMPJ serves youth in the Bronx River and Soundview/Bruckner neighborhoods which are 65% Latino, 30% African American, 3% White and 2% Asian. 50% of all children in the community live below the poverty level. YMPJ works with youth in small groups where they receive mentoring and one-on-one attention during after school hours and throughout the summer. Youth receive homework help, develop literacy and math skills, and work on arts projects aimed at honing critical thinking skills. Each youth member has a mentor who meets regularly with them, collects report cards and monitors each student for academic progress throughout the year. Objectives of this project are: to work with 100 youth per year to achieve academic improvements in school, develop personal learning plans and increase school attendance. The goal of this process is the holistic development of young members as agents of change, critical thinkers, and talented and compassionate human beings. With increased personal attention and much of their free time spent participating in these programs, youth are less likely to be delinquent. NCA/NCF