Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $250,000)
The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).
The Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center Nonviolence Leadership Program in-school workshops and out-of-school programming assist low-income, traditionally disenfranchised youth of the Greater Oakland area to engage in meaningful problem solving through the study and practice of nonviolence principles. Programming connects a young workforce affected by the current economic downturn to public and private enterprises dedicated to the promotion and development of a green economy. In-school workshops are presented to 1,200 middle and high school students in six school districts. Sixty youth then join in advanced leadership programming including academic coaching, school visitations, on-going home visits, leadership cultural exchanges and public speaking. Students demonstrate transformation in their character and changes in their conduct reflective of nonviolence principles. In addition to developing nonviolence leadership, the Freedom Center also works on a Green Civic Campaign assisting 175 significantly marginalized youth to engage in a campaign-style project that includes 140 hours of college-level classroom instruction in ethical leadership and green sustainability living, workforce and personal development workshops and direct job training related to a green sustainable life style and economy.
Students will demonstrate increased academic capacity, increased respect for self and others, increased ability to give and receive coaching, decreased use of force in problem solving, trust in ethical relationships, strong work ethic, and sustainable work-ready job skills. Outcomes will be demonstrated through analysis of hard school and workforce data, pre and post program surveys and qualitative reviews. NCA/NCF