The Clouds Part in Harlem

Friday was a rainy day in New York City, but the clouds parted and the sky was blue by the time I left the open house for our newest project in Harlem: the Harlem Justice Corps.  The weather seemed an apt metaphor for what we are trying to do with this project, which is part of the NYC Justice Corps, a program created by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Center for Economic Opportunity.

The Harlem Justice Corps will work intensively with young people (ages 18-24) with a history of involvement with the criminal justice system.  The goal is not just to help them avoid criminal behavior, but to provide them with the kind of coaching and training that will help them find fulfilling work -- in other words, to help shepherd talented but troubled young people to brighter futures.  It is a challenging project that sets ambitious goals for a difficult population.

To find out more, I encourage you to check out the Twitter feed of the Harlem Community Justice Center.