The Institute for Transformative Mentoring (ITM) focuses on the professional development of Credible Messengers: Individuals impacted by the criminal justice system who now engage in violence reduction and youth mentoring in community-based groups and social service agencies around the city. Credible messengers are recognized as an effective strategy to reduce crime and criminal justice involvement. A study from the Urban Institute and the Department of Probation shows a 57% decrease in convictions among young people working with credible messenger mentors and City leaders credit community-based anti-violence programs with reducing gun violence.
ITM helps Credible Messengers heal and enhance their skills so they are better able to help others. ITM uses restorative justice practices and interactive learning to support participants in engaging deeply with the material and each other. ITM collaborated with local nonprofit organizations to develop a professional development program that focuses on healing, while providing credible messengers with practical job skills and college credits. Since its founding in 2017, ITM has served over 300 participants from 80 organizations. Partner organizations range from large social service agencies like Good Shepherd Services and Rising Ground to organizations led by credible messengers, such as ManUp! and Pure Legacee.
This semester-long college-level course covers:
Trauma-informed care
Youth development
A history of mass incarceration and a social justice framework.
Students engage in role-playing exercises designed to enhance their practical skills, while deepening their understanding of, and healing from, their own traumatic experiences with oppression.
The Anti-Gun Violence Employment Program engages young people (age range?) at risk of perpetrating, or being victimized by, gun violence. Paid internships with community organizations increase their skills and social and professional growth. The program includes a six-week summer employment component and a second, 20-week October-April phase. It’s implemented in partnership with organizations contracting with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice/Office of Neighborhood Safety. The Training of the Trainers Program is a 16-week program for young people age 18-24. An initial two-month focus on such skills as public speaking, youth development, and self-care is followed by paid internship placements at community sites (cbos?) funded by New York City’s Works Progress Program.
Starting in 2021, ITM has offered a fellowship program for ITM graduates. It’s designed to enable credible messengers to become effective advocates of policy change – to develop their analytical skills, meet and work with elected officials, forge and strengthen networks and alliances, and incubate solutions to community issues.
The Anti-Gun Violence Employment Program engages young people (age range?) at risk of perpetrating, or being victimized by, gun violence. Paid internships with community organizations increase their skills and social and professional growth. The program includes a six-week summer employment component and a second, 20-week October-April phase. It’s implemented in partnership with organizations contracting with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice/Office of Neighborhood Safety. The Training of the Trainers Program is a 16-week program for young people age 18-24. An initial two-month focus on such skills as public speaking, youth development, and self-care is followed by paid internship placements at community sites (cbos?) funded by New York City’s Works Progress Program.
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