In this episode, host Ahmad Qawi, President/CEO of the Racine Family YMCA, interviews Mr. Damian Dolley, the Racine Family YMCA's Credible Messengers Coordinator. Racine's Credible Messengers Movement was launched in January 2019 in partnership with Racine County. This initiative connects juvenile offenders referred by the juvenile justice system to mentors who have overcome similarly challenging life experiences and also works with youth who are at high risk for involvement with law enforcement. 
Through gang-diversion mentoring and instruction to broaden personal and educational horizons, students learn to seek positive life outcomes, reducing recidivism. The Family Engagement Specialist meets regularly with parents/guardians to identify and address family needs and provide appropriate resources, including referrals to other Y programs such as fatherhood mentoring through the Focus on Fathers Initiative, job training through the First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program, or the  Young Leaders Academy (YLA) for younger siblings.
The Y also works with youth who are at high risk for becoming involved in the justice system. This could include siblings of current program participants, previously incarcerated youth who are no longer monitored by the court system, or youth in the community who are on the fringe of gang activity. These youth are identified by parents, school teachers and counselors, law enforcement, etc. Outreach to this population includes expanded meetings and services to parents, meetings in the community and other youth recruitment strategies. The Messengers also attend court appearances as sometimes parents/guardians do not show up. The Messengers also provide mentoring to youth who are currently incarcerated.
Mr. Dolley was previously the Young Leaders Academy Coordinator for the Racine Family YMCA, a character and leadership excellence after school program for Racine youth in Grades 2-12, and also served on Racine's Gang Diversion Task Force. 
 Learn more about the Credible Messengers Movement here: https://ymcaracine.org/strong-communi...

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