YAP, Inc.The Neighborhood Advocate

Fort Worth, TX — At age 20, after five rocky years, Rome has finally made the pivot that will put his life on a positive path. 

Fresh out of culinary school, he’s a line cook at a Fort Worth restaurant. It’s a dream job that comes after five years of court appearances, lock ups, misguided youthful decisions, heartbreaks, and bad luck. 

Rome said as a kid, he was quiet and stuck to himself. At school, without much effort, he got Bs and Cs and never got into trouble. 

But as he grew from childhood to adolescence, he began worrying about his family’s wellbeing. 

“My mom had health problems. She had mini strokes and couldn’t work,” he said. “She talked a lot about bills and things being cut off.” 

By tenth grade, to ease the strain, he started selling weed. It went well until it didn’t, and he got caught. 

“I got kicked out of school,” he said. 

In the house with his mom, younger sister and older brother, things were tense and the pressure intensified. 

Rome, 15, at the time, designed a bold plan for how he could provide for his family. 

“I got a gun and robbed the corner store,” he said.  

Rome said he went on to rob more stores. During that time, he took a trip to visit a friend and along the way became an armed robbery victim himself. The incident also made him a gunshot victim. 

Back in Fort Worth, police caught up with him. Facing multiple armed robbery-related charges, he was arrested and placed in a youth detention facility. For the nine months he was there, he stayed to himself, avoided trouble, and had no infractions, something he said was extremely difficult to accomplish.

When the time came for his disposition hearing, Rome said he was placed on determinant probation — reserved for the county’s highest risk youth — for five years. He was assigned to receive services from a local office of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. A national nonprofit supported by philanthropy and local government systems in 31 states and Washington, D.C., YAP® provides community-based services as an alternative to youth incarceration and other residential placements. Family-centered, accountability-focused services are delivered by staff Advocates, mental health professionals and/or other employee teams.

YAP® Regional Director Alex Alvear, who served as a supervisor at the nonprofit’s Tarrant County office at the time, recalls learning that Rome’s mother moved out of state during his time in detention. He and YAP® Advocate Vincent Hayes’ first order of business was to find temporary housing for him. Alvear says given Rome’s background, it wasn’t easy. 

“We finally found a family that takes in homeless kids, but there was no available bed for Rome,” Alvear said. “He had to sleep on the floor.”  

With support from YAP®, Hayes and Alvear purchased a bed and clothing for Rome. Adhering to the YAP® wraparound services model, they met with him regularly, focused on empowering him with skills to see and nurture his strengths. They also assisted him with practical matters, like obtaining his state ID and other personal documents, and saw to it that he participated in his assigned community service. Within weeks, Rome had a job at a local taco shop and enrolled in GED classes. 

“It didn’t take him long to pass the first section,” Alvear said. “He also assisted with tutoring other students.” 

Alvear said Rome stayed out of trouble and looked forward to gaining independence and having a place of his own.  

“He was clearly a leader among his peers,” Alvear said. “He was very wise in the words he chose. He knocked out his community service and had talked regularly with his probation officer.” 

Alvear said in addition to working at the taco shop, Rome found ways to earn extra money, determined to not only put himself in a good position, but to also help the couple who took him and so many other young people into their home. 

“There were four or five other kids at the house, and Rome really wanted to contribute,” Alvear said. “He ended up getting a job with a landscaper and eventually bought his own lawnmower.” 

Things were going well until an evening when Rome was walking with his lawnmower in a suburban community. Police officers stopped him and asked what he was doing in the neighborhood. 

“He told them he was out cutting grass,” Alvear said. “But he had a gun on him.” 

On probation Rome said he was adjudicated to spending the next year at a Texas Juvenile Justice Department facility in Waco. Alvear made a commitment to stay in his corner.  When he made the hour and a half drive to visit him at the facility, he learned that Rome had no other visitors.

“Still, he stayed positive and took accountability for his actions,” Alvear said. “I remember Rome said something to me that was profound. He said he found out who shot him and was going to write him a letter forgiving him.” 

Alvear spoke to Rome whenever he could and was impressed by his strength and character. 

“During that time, I stayed to myself; I almost never left my room except when I had to clean the halls,” Rome said. “I read a lot, Tony Robbins books, [Napolean Hill’s] Think and Grow Rich, all self-help books.” 

He recalls taking full advantage of opportunities to watch TV.

“I would tell them to put it on Food Network,” he said. 

On his 19th birthday, Rome was free to return to Fort Worth. He had no infractions and completed a violence awareness program as well as the final GED classes he started a year earlier, finally earning the certificate. With no family to return to and support from his caseworker, he qualified for independent living where the foster care system supplemented his rent while he attended culinary school. 

When he graduated, Alvear and Rome’s former youth probation officer were at the ceremony. He said it was one of the happiest days of his life.  

Today, in addition to holding down his restaurant job, Rome prepares dishes for his friends and creates menus for private parties.  

His specialties are Jamaican jerk lamb chops and ox tails, smoked braised turkey wings, and barbequed beef ribs. 

Rome has put his life on a positive path, grateful that his probation officer, Alvear, and Hayes were there for him when he needed it most, making him a believer that with support, there is such a thing as a second chance and sometimes a third one, too. 

Learn more about YAP® and how you can support the nonprofit at www.yapinc.org. 

Follow Rome on Instagram, @chefromelove.

*All photos by Level Up Photoz and can be reached at levelupphotoz@gmail.com.

Mecklenburg County, NC – Youth Advocate Programs’ Inc., (YAP®) Alternatives to Violence (ATV) teams hosted its 2nd Annual Sneaker Ball to raise awareness of gun violence prevention and connect with program participants, their families, and neighbors on Sunday, Aug. 9 at Venue at 8470. 

Sponsored by Healthy Blue Care Together, the Sneaker Ball provided YAP® ATV members an opportunity to invite the community they serve to enjoy music, food, mingling and dancing -  all while sharing how they detect and interrupt unhealthy behaviors and support individuals  who are at the greatest risk of engaging in violence with educational, emotional and economic tools that provide practical life choice alternatives.  

 YAP® became the city’s first ATV partner with the Beatties Ford Road site in 2021 as part of a partnership with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. YAP® was chosen as part of ATV’s expansion in 2023 to manage one of two additional sites — the one at West Boulevard/Remount Road. 

A UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute released a year three study in December 2025 on the YAP ATV Beatties Ford Road program which found a significant decrease in violence. Among the Key Findings, more community members rejected violence; violent crime rates began to stabilize; YAP ATV areas experienced a reduction in robbery and nonfatal homicides; and fewer community members reported witnessing or experiencing violence. 

Additionally, the YAP® ATV teams hosted the Sneaker Ball in conjunction with YAP®’s Mecklenburg County Juvenile Justice Program that has partnered with the court system since 2019 – where through referrals – program participants are matched with a neighborhood-based YAP Advocate who champions for them and their families. 

Follow YAP Charlotte’s – Mecklenburg County Facebook page for more information, or visit yapinc.org.

  

Gloucester County, NJ – Former Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. participant Atira used her turbulent past as motivation to pursue her collegiate dreams.  

“Ever since I was little, I bounced around from house to house,” Atira wrote in her Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education essay. “Drugs were always in the picture [at home], so things were really tough growing up. A month before my senior year…my baby brother and I ended up in child protection services.”  

Atira and her brother were separated when they were removed from the home. She went to live with her godmother, which provided her with some stability.  

“It turned out to be a good thing,” Atira said. “I’d spent a lot of summers with her whenever things got rough at home or when we didn’t have anywhere else to go.”  

When Atira chose to live independently, she became involved in YAP® Gloucester County’s Youth Justice program, where she was paired with an Advocate who helped her navigate young adulthood. She empowered Atira to see her strengths and connected her to economic, educational, and emotional tools to help set her up for success. The program served youth by providing wraparound support services to youth who were self-referred, or referred by the family courts, law enforcement or other entities.  

“My [Advocate] was a huge help,” Atira wrote. “She taught me how to live on my own and stay focused on what really matters, like school and my health.”  

YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, and other systems in communities across the U.S. to deliver family-centered, accountability-focused services as an alternative to correctional and residential care facilities. 

Current and former YAP® program participants and their families are encouraged to apply for the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund scholarship. Thanks to donors – most of whom are YAP® employees – beneficiaries are eligible to apply for and receive the scholarship annually. The award is $1,500 for college or trade school tuition, fees or supplies, or a laptop computer. The unique Endowment Fund also received generous donations from the YAP® Board of Directors and other contributors. 

Atira has received the award six times during her college matriculation at Rutgers University-Camden where she earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and criminal justice. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in criminal justice with hopes to continue to earn her doctorate degree and join the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Evidence Response Team.  

“I am so proud of her,” said Endowment President and YAP® Chief of Staff Patty Rosati. “It is stories like Atira’s that make giving to the Endowment Fund so important. YAP is all about supporting our youth, young adults, and families as they find their way in pursuing their dreams.”  

Atira is thankful to YAP® and the Tom Jeffers Fund for helping assist her as she navigates her education journey.  

“I used to dream of being a health professional ever since kindergarten, but my goals have shifted,” Atira added. I still want to help people in a different way. Now, I want to help victims get the justice they deserve.” 

For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org. To make a contribution to the Endowment Fund, click here. 

Dublin, Ireland – Music, poetry, dance, artwork, and more – all created by program participants – were on display during Youth Advocate Programmes Ireland’s “My Voice, My Choice,” National Event held August 12.  

Highlighting youth and families is the purpose of YAP Ireland’s annual National Event held every year in August at Dublin’s Croke Park. Among the lineup was The Yappuchinos, a group of young people who learned to play instruments and sing together.  

“There’s such negative publicity about young people and children, particularly young people and children who are involved in the child welfare and youth justice programs,” said YAP Ireland CEO Siobhán O’Dwyer. “We want to highlight the amazing abilities, creatives of young people, and from children and parents; that when they’re provided with the right type of support that is non-judgmental and meets them where they’re at, that it encourages them to try new things and believe in themselves.” 

YAP Ireland operates in 25 counties, some in rural areas, and was the first community-based organization in Ireland to bring youth out of residential placement and back into their home communities. Approximately 250 youth, parents, agency partners, and staff participated in the National Event. The theme was chosen by youth. It changes every year and is incorporated as a theme in each program and project.  

“We started the National Event in 2009, the year after I came to YAP,” Siobhán said. “It was based on the idea of celebrating young people, and parents, and wanting to give them an opportunity to have a nice day out, but also to have their voices heard.”  

YAP Advocate Aisleen Harte, a mom of two who has been working with children for over 20 years, shared her book, “My Voice, My Choice,” and the reason behind her decision to write it.  

“It’s about empowerment and [youth] using their voices to speak up in difficult situations,” Aisleen said. “I am 40 and I am only getting my voice now. It took me to get strong-willed children to use my own voice. By giving youth everyday scenarios, we can encourage them to use their voice.”  

Aisleen has been working with program participant Seana since March and encouraged her to express how she feels. Seana moved to Ireland from the United Kingdom with her dad after her mom died of cancer when she was 12.  

“When I came to Ireland, I was struggling because most of my time was spent at home alone and it was getting to me. My dad looked into mental health services and that is when I got into the YAP program,” Seana said. “My YAP Advocate is open to doing a lot of things, like even going to the gym and it’s a good hobby. I also suggested that we do a culture week with different foods since I am Muslim and there’s not much I can usually eat. The program has been good.”  

Next year YAP Ireland will celebrate 25 years of providing unique services that are strength-based in helping youth and families who are affected by youth justice, child welfare or behavioral health systems. In addition to YAP Ireland, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. has partner organizations in Guatemala, Sierra Leone and Sydney, Australia.  

“A large part of the YAP model is building resilience,” Siobhán said. “We’re a short-term program but [youth] learn something about themselves, ‘like I love to the play the guitar,’ or ‘I like to draw,’ or ‘I got back into running;’ it could be fishing…Their inner strength is worth celebrating.”  

Parent Group moms shared how YAP Ireland provided support for them and their children during the event.  

“My daughter was at YAP for six months,” the mom of a program participant said. “As parents we still needed help to support our kids. They created a group for us to meet up, and it’s been good for us.”  

According to the parent, her daughter was unwell, bullied, and faced racial discrimination.  

“She developed an eating disorder at the age of 9, and she only got help because nobody was actually listening to us until she came to YAP,” she added. “My YAP Advocate is the only one who helped my daughter and myself. Now my daughter is in a very good college.”  

Another parent said the group meets once a month on Tuesdays, adding that her daughter was a participant of YAP twice, and she is now 28 years-old with 5 kids of her own. Her son was also in YAP.  

“I needed someone to talk to,” she said regarding the group. “YAP helped us and our kids.” 

Siobhán said it’s powerful for youth and families to share their stories. 

“It’s really important to celebrate the good work of YAP and to say to our young people and families ‘look how well you’ve done and there’s a whole world out there for you.’”  

YAP® Vice President of International Development Diana Matteson echoed Siobhán’s sentiments during the program.  

“I want you to know that you’re never alone in what you’re going through and that your voice matters,” Diana said. “There are young people in America, Sierra Leone, Australia, and Guatemala who are in similar situations, learning and receiving support from their Advocates just like you. I am truly inspired by all of you, and congratulations to YAP Ireland on a successful, phenomenal National Event.”  

Additionally, Siobhán emphasized that the National Event would not happen without the staff who work tirelessly to put it together to make it happen.  

“It’s important for our partners who fund us to see the outcomes, action, and the real change happening,” she added. “These young people wouldn’t come to YAP if they weren’t referred to us.”  

For more information on YAP Ireland, visit: https://yapireland.ie/

Photo and Video below by Keystone Productions; Venue: Avenue Kitchen & Bar

Baltimore, MD — Sharday was among Baltimoreans honored at a special brunch this summer for turning their lives around after previously being identified as being at the greatest risk of being engaged in violence.

Today, Sharday has a full-time job and is establishing a positive future for her six children. After serving time and accepting accountability for gun-related convictions, she is working to get her record expunged.

The recognition event was hosted by Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc., one of Baltimore’s Group Violence Reduction (GVRS) nonprofit service providers. The keynote speaker was Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, who credited GVRS for being a major contributor to the city’s 60% reduction in violence since his administration launched the initiative four years ago.

In this video, Sharday accepts an award from her YAP® Life Coach Jimmy Little. “No more wrong place, wrong time for her,” he said.

Photos by Ken Lewis

Memphis, Tenn. — About 100 guests gathered at the National Civil Rights Museum for a brunch to celebrate positive outcomes for justice-involved youth in Memphis and Shelby County.

The event recognized the first-year outcomes of Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County’s partnership with Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. A philanthropy-supported publicly funded national nonprofit, YAP® partners with youth justice and other systems to provide community-based, accountability-focused individual and family wraparound services as an alternative to incarceration and residential placements.

Since partnering with Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County in June 2025, 24 Memphis area youths ages 12 – 18 facing or convicted of gun, assault, carjacking, theft, and other serious offenses successfully completed services with YAP®.

The event recognized four former program participants who are putting their lives on a positive path. Johnny is spending the summer training for his final high school football season. Nick is in the final stages of completing his GED program and has rebuilt his relationship with his mother, which was a top goal for him. Kenyata is looking for full-time employment. Pierre, who served as guest speaker, completed his senior year with a B average, is delivering packages at night and working for a landscaper in the daytime, and plans to attend college on a band scholarship.

The event was hosted by YAP® Shelby County Program Director Darius Ford and his team along with the Juvenile Court’s Community Stakeholder Manager Kimbrell Owens.  

Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County Judge Tarik Sugarmon served as the keynote speaker, emphasizing that accountability and rehabilitation go hand in hand.

“YAP® doesn’t simply supervise young people, they walk alongside them, they invest in them, they invest in their families,” Sugarmon said. “They help them find jobs, reconnect with school, strengthen relationships and build confidence and give them tools to make different choices.”

Sugarmon congratulated the successful program participants and acknowledged supporters of the pilot including Youth Development Specialists and other Shelby County Court personnel. He also recognized District 8 Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery, who attended the event, and others whose belief in the program contributed to its initial success.

Celebrating with Ford and his team were YAP® President & CEO Gary Ivory, VP Jamaal Crawford, and Regional Director Marlon Rucker.

“The annual cost for 30 YAP® wraparound services slots for Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County youth last year was $600,000. Half was covered by the county, and the other $300,000 by YAP® philanthropic donations,” Ivory said. “That $110 per-day investment is less than a sixth of the more than $120,000 cost to incarcerate a child for six months. And that doesn’t account for the costs for visitation — transportation, lost time at work, childcare, and other expenses when a parent visits one of their children in a facility.”

Ivory added that that youth incarceration and residential placements compound risks leading to homicide, suicide, school failure, poverty, unemployment, substance use, homelessness, adult incarceration, and other negative cycles, straining public resources and threatening community safety and wellbeing.

“In 2023, YAP® issued a Notice of Available Funds application, also known as a NOFA, to youth justice, child welfare, and educational systems across the country,” Crawford said. “Thanks to a generous philanthropic donor, we were able to offer matching funds to jurisdictions wanting to launch our YAP Pursuing Excellence program. We were impressed by Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County’s desire to improve outcomes by trying something innovative.”

YAP® Chief of Marketing and Communications Officer Kelly Williams hosted a brief panel discussion with former program participants, including 18-year-old Tiffany and 14-year-old Jaylen. Jaylen’s mother, India, and Jaylen’s Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County Community Youth Development (CYD) Specialist Tracy Steele were also a part of the discussion.

“Jaylen was stealing cars; now he wants to grow up to own car dealerships,” India said, expressing her gratitude for supporting her son.

The YAP® Pursuing Excellence program model implemented in Memphis and Shelby County includes weekly group Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) cognitive behavioral therapy sessions to address behaviors linked to exposure to violence and abuse.

Rucker, who provided training and guidance to support the program’s launch, recognized YAP®’s team of Memphis and Shelby County Advocates LaVonda Burks, Lance Lester, Charles Griggs, Georgio Washington and Thiery Vester. The Advocates introduced and recognized milestones of current program participants, Cody, Antanya, Tiffany, Christopher M., Jerrel, Ad’dye, William, Martavis, Jaylen, Christopher B., Jamarcoe, Darious, John, Torrian, Lee, Lequinton, and Jabaree. Other regional YAP® staff who helped launch the Memphis pilot were on hand for the celebration, including Vice President of Program Operations Dina Harris, Program Director Monique Crisp, and Program Coordinator of Operations Kanisha Fields.

In addition to recognizing milestones and achievements of former participants, the event recognized parents, court personnel, educators, employers, community and faith leaders, donors, and others for their collaboration and support. Through community partnerships, many participants received education support, acquired workforce development skills through paid YAP® Supported Work, and/or landed their first job.

Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court supporters recognized at the event include:

• Judge Tarik Sugarmon
• Chief Judicial Officer Erica Evans
• Magistrate Sheldon McCall
• Attorney Sean Muizers
• Attorney Shante Oliver
• Attorney Brandi Heiden
• Stacy Smith
• Kimbrell Owens
• Dr. Bernard Williams
• Chief Qur’an Folsom
• Kris Billington

Juvenile Court Staff members

• William Adkins
• Christeanna Talley
• Shantay Jackson
• Dayna Johnson
• Yatasha Holliday
• Aletreuna Hawkins
• Skylah Pruitt
• Judith Hampton
• Patriece Minner
• Boswell Martrell
• Tracy Steele
• Cheryl Oliver
• Cheryl Rhea

 Memphis and Shelby County Community/Supported Work Partners

• Ronald Frazier
• Charles Watts
• HopeWorks
• Anna Barber
• Ephie Johnson

Ford also acknowledged the National Civil Rights Museum and the event’s brunch caterer, Hungry AF.

YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAP®’s youth justice participants remain arrest free, and six – 12 months after completing the program, nearly 90% of the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement. Partnering with cities like Baltimore and Charlotte, the nonprofit also applies principles of its 50-year-old evidence-based individual and family “wraparound services” model to help reduce community violence. Learn more about YAP® and how you can support the national nonprofit’s work yapinc.org.

Livingston County, NY – One of the most difficult and emotional things that Allyssa Butler has done in her job thus far as program director of Youth Advocate Programs’ (YAP®), Inc. Child Welfare program in Livingston, County, New York is stopping a youth from committing suicide. 

“My main goal is to make sure youth are OK,” Butler said. “I am here for those kids.” 

YAP® Livingston County receives referrals from the Department of Social Services for children and youth who range in age from babies to 21 years old. Backgrounds of program participants may also include victims of sex trafficking or abuse, trouble with the law, or they need family support or mental health services. The program currently serves 17 families who usually stay within the program for 6-8 months. 

“Our youngest participants are five-month-old twins and the oldest is 17,” Butler said. “Providing wraparound support is truly what we stand for.” 

YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, and other systems in communities across the U.S. to deliver family-centered, accountability-focused services as an alternative to correctional and residential care facilities. The nonprofit’s evidence-based YAPWrap® services model, empowers program participants to see and nurture their strengths, connects them and their parents/ guardians, and other family members with economic, educational and emotional support to help them put their lives on a positive course. 

In the two years that Allyssa Butler has served as the director of YAP® Livingston County, she and her team have helped families fill out resumes, and have shown parents/guardians how to cook, do laundry among other things.  

“The most important part to me is the satisfaction and overall joy I get from helping families,” Butler said. “I like the good feeling I get from knowing that I am doing something. I am making a difference.”  

Butler – whose program is in the Finger Lakes region of New York and in between Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse – said her personal background of family abuse makes it somewhat easier for her to relate to young people and families in the youth justice and child welfare systems.  

“I come from a lot of childhood trauma,” she said. “My biggest drive is to partner with these families so that they can understand that YAP is here to help.”  

Butler started as an intern with the agency six years ago, before becoming a YAP® Advocate, and an assistant director for YAP®’s Ontario County, NY Child Welfare program.  

“Allyssa is a go getter,” YAP® Regional Director Dana LaCoss said. “She is always willing to jump in on any project and support her regional director across all programs. She goes above and beyond for our team and her county. She worked hard to have a successful startup in Livingston County two years ago, and the county loves her approach and the mission of YAP. Allyssa embodies the one YAP concept and wants to support any where she can.” 

While at the Ontario County program, Butler worked alongside YAP® Director of Administration Carl Graham as a recruitment specialist before she stepped into her current role.  

“Allyssa has shown a passion and commitment to the YAP model while also extending herself to assist other programs and projects whenever called upon,” Graham said. “Allyssa’s strengths revolve around relationship-building, her knowledge, and a clear sense of unconditional care for others.” 

Butler said she couldn’t do any of the work without the leadership of LaCoss and the support and teamwork of her staff.  

“It definitely takes a YAP family to do what we do for sure,” she added. “We learn from each other every day. We celebrate the successes of the families we serve. YAPWRAP is what makes the organization different than anyone else.” 

For more info on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.  

Photos by: Keystone Productions

Baltimore, MD — They were previously identified as being among Baltimoreans at the greatest risk for violence engagement.

But on Saturday, July 25,  Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®) Inc.’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) participants gathered at Baltimore’s Avenue Kitchen and Bar for a celebratory brunch in their honor.

The keynote speaker was Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, who credited GVRS for being a major contributor to the city’s 60% reduction in violence since his administration launched the initiative four years ago.

“Baltimore is leading the way. This is about looking at public safety the right way,” Mayor Scott said.

The event also honored community members whose support helps YAP strengthen and sustain program outcomes.

YAP is one of the city’s two nonprofit GVRS community services providers. YAP GVRS participants are men, women and youth who are group affiliated, formerly incarcerated, individuals recently losing a loved one to gun violence, and others identified as being at the greatest risk for violence engagement.

YAP-assigned referrals include males ages 25 and older; women of all ages; and male and female youth, ages 12-15. Guided by the nonprofit’s No Reject, No Eject policy, YAP also serves some males ages 16-24.

By the beginning of July, YAP served 284 of Baltimore’s highest risk individuals, 77 of whom are currently enrolled. YAP Outreach Workers and Life Coaches work with participants on average about a year. But every case is different.

The celebration was hosted by YAP GVRS Program Director Hope Knuckles and her Baltimore team. YAP President and CEO Gary Ivory, National Board Chair Board Chair Clarence Campbell, and Board Member Jason Szanyi, joined the festivities, along with Chief of Policy and Governmental Affairs Tim Ragland, Regional Director Sean Robinson, and Executive Vice President Dr. LaVeisha Cummings. YAP was joined by Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) Chief of Staff Chanel White, MONSE’s GVRS team, and community partners at the event.

“At the core of all our programs are principles of our signature, evidence-based, family-centered, accountability-focused individual and family wraparound services model,” Ivory said. “Once we earn the trust of those referred to us, we engage them in safety planning and intensive strength-based case management that includes connecting participants and their families to individualized educational, economic and emotional needs tools and community resources that lead to stability.”

YAP is a 50-year-old national nonprofit that gives communities across the U.S. safer, more effective, and less costly alternatives to youth incarceration and residential placements. The nonprofit applies principles of its youth justice and child welfare model in its violence reduction work in Baltimore and other cities.

Invited guests included current and former program participants and their families along with YAP outreach workers and life coaches, many of whom live in or are from the neighborhoods and share life experiences of those they serve. Participants’ success stories included securing employment, moving from homelessness to stable housing, rekindling family relationships, and achieving other personal milestones linked to reducing community violence.

YAP President and CEO Gary Ivory, National Board Chair Board Chair and Baltimore native, Clarence Campbell, and Board Member Jason Szanyi, joined the festivities, along with Chief of Policy and Governmental Affairs Tim Ragland; Regional Director Sean Robinson and Executive Vice President Dr. LaVeisha Cummings.

YAP GVRS Life Coaches and Outreach workers wrote and presented success stories of the participants with which they work.

The following current and former YAP GVRS participants were recognized by their Assistant Director Arnitra Smith and her team of GVRS Life Coaches and Outreach Workers, Andre Bell, Elisha Johnson, Lamont Keaton, and Frankie Jones:

Robert

Mr. Robert began participating in the YAP GVRS Program in 2026. At the start, he was facing several life challenges and difficult circumstances. However, in the short time he said he has received valuable support and credits YAP for helping him recover from a severe leg injury. He developed a plan to address his child support obligations, and he’s accepting guidance on his employment journey. Mr. Robert says the encouragement and support is helping him stay motivated, remain focused on his goals, and build confidence in his ability to improve his situation. As a result, he says he feels more hopeful about achieving stability and creating a better future for himself and his family.

“M” (could not be present for safety reasons)

M started with the YAP GVRS Program in 2025 during a difficult period in his life when he felt he had very few available options. He credits his Life Coach for transparently sharing his own personal experiences and life journey lessons. M said that openness helped him feel comfortable enough to open up about his circumstances and challenges without fear of judgment. M says he is grateful for the support and guidance provided throughout the process of relocating to a safer environment and beginning a new chapter in his life. M said the encouragement, understanding, and consistent support have helped him move forward with confidence and given me hope for a more positive future.

Marcus V.

Marcus V. has exemplified determination, perseverance, and positive growth. When his Life Coach began working with him in March, he did so with an open mind and a listening ear, committed to learning about his goals, strengths, and needs, not from the case notes, but directly from him. Marcus approached the process with openness and a willingness to move forward. His major goal was to remain on a positive path and get a job. He had more than 15 years of work experience, but needed a strong, professional resume. Business Development Coordinator, Ms. E. Young, stepped up to help, and he developed a strong resume. He applied for several jobs and is now gainfully employed as a Port of Baltimore Security guard in Highlandtown. With accountability, hard work, dedication, and resilience Mr. V. knows firsthand that mistakes of his past do not define his future.

Darron

Since entering the program in 2022, Darron’s journey has been a roller coaster with both highs and lows. He has faced challenges with decision-making and managing his temper. In the beginning, Darron was not always on the same page as his Life Coach and did not fully see that through the program, he could pursue greatness and reach his full potential. Over time, however, Darron has grown tremendously. He has developed into a fine young man and a wonderful father. He has demonstrated resilience, determination, and a strong commitment to improving his life. Darron successfully built his own landscaping company from the ground up. Equipped with multiple lawn mowers, weed whackers, and other professional equipment, he has a growing business. He has also launched his own clothing brand, which is also experiencing success. Through hard work, perseverance, and personal growth, Darron now possesses the tools necessary to be successful in this thing we call life.

Marcus P.

Marcus is one of the GVRS program’s youth participants. He has grown tremendously right before the eyes of the YAP Program. When Marcus first entered the program, he was on probation and faced several challenges within his home environment. He struggled with maintaining consistent contact with his life coaches and had difficulty following the rules. At the same time, Marcus remained determined to improve his situation. He continued attending school, successfully completed his probation requirements, and worked hard to stay out of trouble. Throughout his journey, he has demonstrated resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Today, Marcus is actively and aggressively seeking employment while continuing to make positive choices for his future. His commitment to personal growth and accountability has been evident in every aspect of his life. Since joining the YAP Program, Marcus has made a complete 360-degree transformation for the better. He has matured into a responsible young man who understands the importance of making positive decisions and staying focused on his goals.

Mr. James

Although he faced repeated setbacks in his search for jobs during the hiring process due to background checks, Mr. James refused to give up. After continuing to submit applications despite feeling discouraged, he successfully secured employment. In addition to holding down a job, Mr. James is pursuing his entrepreneurial goals through his clothing line, which has already begun generating income. And he recently shared with his Life Coach that he is interested in learning wholesale real estate. Coincidentally, his Life Coach has experience wholesaling properties and has been able to provide guidance and encouragement. Through his participation in YAP and with guidance from his Life Coach, Mr. James has remained focused on personal and professional growth. His commitment and perseverance recently led to his selection for a position in the construction field. He is dedicated to creating a stable and successful future for himself and his family.

The following current and former participants were recognized by YAP GVRS Assistant Director Crystal Evans’ team of GVRS Life Coaches and Outreach Workers, Jimmy Little, Tim Schriver, Sterling Hering, Daryll Still, and Danyae Morgan.

Sharday

When she first joined the program, Sharday was leaving jail and beginning a new chapter. No more wrong place at the wrong time for her. She was determined to move forward and embrace every opportunity for growth. Since entering the program, she has earned her driver’s license and secured stable employment earning more than $50,000 a year. She’s staying out of trouble and working to have her record expunged. Reflecting on her YAP journey, she shared, “It has gotten me moving in the right direction.”

Nicholas

Nicholas started the program several years ago after facing complex challenges. Prior to his GVRS involvement, he spent 4 years surviving on the streets, selling drugs, and engaging in activities that ultimately led to his incarceration on handgun possession charges. When he came home, he received the letter from the Office of Mayor Brandom M. Scott referring him to YAP. At the time, he was struggling with a debilitating and progressive eye disease called keratoconus, which results in blurred and distorted vision. The specialized contact lens needed to manage his condition cost more than $1,000. Through the program, he was connected to the appropriate healthcare resources and coverage needed to obtain the lens. This life-changing assistance significantly improved his vision and quality of life. As a result, Nicholas was able to obtain his driver’s license and secure professional employment as a driver with AMPORT, an opportunity he never imagined possible. He’s now attending certification classes to further his career opportunities and recently achieved a major milestone. He moved into his first home. Nicholas credits YAP with helping him overcome significant barriers. His journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of second chances.

Jamal

After experiencing the tragic loss of his cousin and the near-fatal shooting of his brother, Jamal heard from the office of Mayor Brandon M. Scott. He was being referred to YAP for services, including being relocated for safety. Jamal came to the program angry, unmotivated, and struggling with grief. With guidance and support, Jamal began seeing light at the end of the tunnel. He obtained his driver’s license, established an LLC for his moving and hauling business, and secured stable housing. Today, he continues to maintain his apartment, and he remains focused on building a positive future with no desire to return to the streets or seek revenge. Jamal expressed his deep gratitude to Mayor Scott, the GVRS program, and his Life Coach for helping him transform his life and create a path toward long-term stability and success.

Jerrell

Jerrell came to YAP after a close friend of his was shot. At first, he thought it was just like any other program. But he said with the YAP Outreach Team, he recognized sincerity and a genuine commitment to helping him succeed. So he gave YAP a chance. He said his objective is providing long-term stability for himself and his family. His career goals are obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License or HVAC certification. Through YAP’s support, Jerrell got a foot in the career door — employment with the Port that he’s held for two years now. He’s off the streets and focused on building a better future, developing important life skills such as discipline, punctuality, money management, and professionalism. He’s working towards becoming a longshoreman. Jerrell is an outstanding father to a 17-year-old. By example, he demonstrates leadership, being your own person, and avoiding negative influences, making good decisions, resisting peer pressure, and staying away from drugs and other harmful behaviors.

Charles

Just a few years ago, Charles was heading down a path that could have led to incarceration and a future filled with missed opportunities. But Charles’ story did not end there. Charles received a letter from Mayor Brandon M. Scott. It was more than just a piece of paper. It was an invitation. It was an opportunity. It was a message that said, “We believe you can choose a different path.” Through YAP, Charles connected with a Life Coach who is also a former football coach. That mattered because Charles needed someone who knew firsthand the meaning of meeting someone where they are.  Charles began to attend school regularly and started seeing himself differently. YAP made it possible for him to have a tuxedo so he could fully experience high school and attend his junior prom with confidence and pride. Charles has always had a passion for barbering. Through YAP, he met local barbershop owners and professionals who could help him envision a future in the industry. Charles is expected to complete probation next month and begin his senior year.  After that, he’ll be off to barber school paving the path for his dream to be a master barber. The big plan is to own and operate his own barbershop and to create opportunities for others in his community.

Tonka

Tonka takes accountability for the mistakes in his past. Mistakes that included bank robbery convictions resulting in six and a half years in prison. He re-entered society determined to change the direction of his life. Following his release, the Mayor’s Office offered Tonka a second chance. On parole, he knew he had to find stable employment, make an honest living, and become a law-abiding citizen. He says the support he received through YAP has been lifechanging. He often says YAP treats him like family. He appreciates the value of participating in cultural events and outings but is especially grateful for the positive relationships he has built along the way. Tonka has maintained steady employment at a furniture warehouse and remains committed to living a productive and positive life. His priority is raising his son to become a responsible, respectful, and successful young man. Known for his magnetic big smile, Tonka aspires to work with youth and become a positive role model for others.

Taylor

Taylor became involved with YAP after surviving a traumatic shooting at her home. She was sitting on her front porch with her cousin. Taylor was shot twice in her arm, and the home was riddled with bullets. In shock and pain, Taylor wrapped her injured arm and screamed for someone to call her mother. Fortunately, the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City Fire Department responded immediately. Instead of sending a letter, Mayor Brandon M. Scott personally visited Taylor’s home and spoke with her family. They were immediately placed in relocation services for their safety. For a long time, any loud popping noise triggered fear and anxiety in Taylor. The experience changed her family. Plus Taylor was in and out of the hospital. To this day, one bullet remains lodged in her arm. Taylor came to YAP with the goal of healing, avoiding retaliation, and moving forward with her life. During court proceedings, she witnessed the suspect cry and express remorse. Rather than holding onto anger, Taylor felt compassion, chose forgiveness, and sincerely hopes he makes better choices for his future. Taylor participated in the nonprofit’s YAPWORKS job readiness program, where she learned valuable skills, including responsibility, punctuality, and professionalism. And she got a job as a restaurant hostess where she learned patience, time management skills, and the importance of teamwork. She only left to focus on finishing high school in August and pursuing Pharmacy Technician training. Taylor is grateful to Mayor Scott, YAP, and the entire GVRS Program for supporting her and her family during one of the most difficult periods of her life.

Community partner honorees recognized by the YAP GVRS team for their support include:

GVRS Leaders:

• Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Director Stefanie Mavronis
• Chief of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy Mr. Terence Nash
• Group Violence Reduction Strategy Service Partnership Manager Dr. Raymond Greene-Joyner
• Group Violence Reduction Strategy Community Partnership Manager Mr. Reginald Williams
• Group Violence Reduction Strategy Community Partnership Manager Mr. Marvin McKenstry
• And Group Violence Reduction Strategy Service Partnership Manager Ms. Bernice Walker
• GVRS Community Moral Voices
• Joyous Jones
• Pastor Derrick Dewitt, Sr.
• Pastor Tony Murray
• Pastor Lavern Murray
• Elder Clyde Harris
• Crystal Parker
• Kin Brown-Lane
• Earl Young

PEACE Team Partners

• Eric Brown
• Angola Brady
• Avon McCray  

Baltimore GVRS Police Department and Maryland Parole and Probation Partners:

• Baltimore Police Department GVRS Coordinator Laurieann Beard
• Sergeant Jonathan Garrett
• Detective Sheila Raheem
• Detective Odis Daniels
• Detective Diamond Sykes
• Detective Quinton Perry
• Detective Bernadette Grimes
• Community Partnerships Neighborhood Coordinator Cecilia Alvarez
• Maryland Public Safety and Correctional Services Senior Agent Candice Thompson

Workforce development and employment partners

• Shannon Queen with the Baltimore Port Authority
• Phoebe Lestebe with Clean Corp
• Deweta Logan, owner of 1810 Catering Restaurant

Malik, a former participant, who was recognized at a November 2024 celebration encouraged the honorees not to give up and shared an update on his life.

“I started my own business, a cleaning company called Kody Solution, and have a contract to clean three YAP offices,” he said

If you’re looking to support YAP’s work, I encourage you to learn more about them at YAPInc.org. 

The honorees got addition encouragement from Moral Voices, Pastor Tony Murray from Doxa Ministries as part of his invocation.

Clark County, Nev. –  Former Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®) Inc., Clark County, Nev. Youth Justice Program participant Paul is off to Baton Rouge, La., this fall to attend college thanks in part to a scholarship he received through the nonprofit’s Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education. 

 “My goal is to use my personal experiences to give back and help other at-risk youth,” Paul wrote in his Endowment essay. “I plan to pursue a degree in criminal justice. My aspiration is to work within the justice system as a juvenile probation officer or youth counselor, focusing on rehabilitation and restorative justice to help others find a better path just as I did.” 

Thanks to donors – most of whom are YAP® employees – beneficiaries of the Endowment Fund are eligible to apply for and receive the scholarship annually. The award is $1,500 for college or trade school tuition, fees or supplies, or a laptop computer. The unique scholarship fund also receives generous donations from the YAP® Board of Directors and other contributors. 

YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, and other systems in communities across the U.S. to deliver family-centered, accountability-focused services as an alternative to correctional and residential care facilities. Principles of the nonprofit’s evidence-based alternative-to-placement model are also applied to its work with public safety systems to reduce neighborhood violence. 

Through a partnership with the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services, YAP® Clark County Youth Justice program works with program participants ages 8-18 who are justice-involved providing youth with an Advocate who spends a minimum of working three hours a week providing positive support in their academic, career and personal goals. 

“I made some poor choices that resulted in me being placed on juvenile probation,” Paul said. “What started as a requirement, soon became a life-changing opportunity that helped me redirect my path in a positive way.” 

Paul was paired with YAP® Advocate Trilbia Garrett, who spent time with him weekly and encouraged him to pursue his goals while nurturing his strengths. 

“Through YAP, I was paired with an [Advocate] who provided accountability without judgement,” Paul wrote. “This support system helped me develop stronger decision-making skills, resist negative peer pressure and focus on my education. Most importantly, YAP helped me realize that my past does not define my future. The program gave me the confidence and tools I needed to grow and move forward with purpose.” 

 Garrett said Paul was able to maintain his academic and personal responsibilities through determination, maturity, and maintaining a positive attitude. 

“Paul has consistently demonstrated the qualities of leadership, academic dedication, integrity, and perseverance that make him an outstanding candidate for this opportunity,” Garrett wrote in the recommendation letter of Paul. “Throughout the time I have known him, he has shown a strong commitment to personal growth and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on those around him.” 

Paul plans to attend Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in the fall and is thankful to YAP® and the Endowment Fund for helping him pursue his goals. 

“I have no doubt that [Paul]will continue to achieve great things,” Garrett added.  

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org. To donate to the Endowment Fund, click here.  

  

Arkansas – The Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. Arkansas Behavioral Health team is not surprised to learn that LaKeitha moved past a time of trouble and crisis to put her life on a positive path. 

“There are certain students you encounter in life who leave a lasting impression – not simply because of their accomplishments, but because of their strength and resilience of their spirt,” said YAP® Arkansas Behavioral Health Program Assistant Director Magigor Love. “Lakeitha is one of those students who overcame personal, behavioral, and mental health challenges.” 

Love worked with Lakeitha when she was referred to YAP® Arkansas’ BH program that provided her with wraparound tools connecting her to economical, emotional and educational support. 

“Facing ongoing family and interpersonal conflict with peers, noncompliance with curfew, aggression and fighting, jail, ankle monitors….[Lakeitha] could have easily allowed circumstances to dictate the outcome of her life. Instead, Lakeitha made a powerful and deeply personal choice to return to school,” Love added. “She completed her high school education at age 16.” 

Love wrote a letter of recommendation for Lakeitha, who received a scholarship through YAP®’s Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education.  She plans to attend cosmetology school in August. 

 The special scholarship is funded by donors, most of whom are YAP® employees and Board of Directors members. Recipients are eligible to apply for and receive the scholarship annually. The award is $1,500 for college or trade school tuition, fees or supplies, or a laptop computer. 

“The scholarship will help me pay or my school expenses, supplies, and also housing,” Lakeitha wrote in her scholarship essay. “My plans are to stay focused and graduate from cosmetology [school] and eventually own a business one day.” 

Referred to YAP® through her probation officer, Lakeitha wrote that she was getting into trouble in school by fighting, leaving school without permission, and not doing her work. Additionally, she said she would miss curfews, not listening to her mother, and failed a drug test. 

YAP® Arkansas uses the Family Centered Treatment method by providing in-home family therapy and community care. FCT also supports YAP®’s wraparound approach to working with youth and their families to set them up for success. YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, mental health, and other public systems to deliver its community-based services as a safer, more-effective alternative to placing youth in trouble or crisis in corrections and residential treatment facilities. 

Lakeitha said learned a lot from YAP® and could not have persevered without the love of her mother. 

“I benefited from the program by listening when we talked about ways to control my anger, and how I should walk away and not make bad decisions,” she added. 

Love is excited about Lakeitha’s future. 

“With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that Lakeitha will continue to achieve, grow, and inspire,” Love wrote. “More importantly, she will carry forward resilience, using her story and strength to uplift others who may still be searching for their own path. Supporting her is not only an acknowledgment of how far she has come—it is an investment in the meaningful impact she is destined to make.” 

 YAP® Arkansas serves Benton, Carroll, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Franklin, Hempstead, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Little River, Logan, Madison, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Polk, Pope, Scott, Sebastian, Sevier, Union, and Washington counties 

For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org. To donate to the Endowment Fund, click here. 

Dallas County, Texas – Years of bullying, harassment and cyberbullying in high school left Jynee feeling isolated, and without friends and support.  

Her family reached out to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. in Dallas that offers a Behavioral Health program where she was paired with former YAP® Qualified Mental Health Professional Angela Heggins. 

“[Heggins] became my huge support throughout my high school years,” Jynee wrote in her YAP® Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education application essay. “I believe I have benefited from the program by exploring my identity and self-worth, learning self-love. Additionally, the program helped me with college planning, life readiness and maintaining a positive attitude during high school.”  

In the fall, Jynee begins her freshman year at the University of Texas at Arlington as a first-generation college student where she plans to major in nursing and join the college’s Army’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.  

Jynee was encouraged to apply for the Endowment Fund, which is mostly funded by YAP® employees, where beneficiaries are eligible to apply for and receive the scholarship annually. The award is $1,500 for college or trade school tuition, fees or supplies, or a laptop computer. The unique Endowment Fund also received generous donations from the YAP® Board of Directors and other contributors. 

YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, and other systems in communities across the U.S. to deliver family-centered, accountability-focused services as an alternative to correctional and residential care facilities. Principles of the nonprofit’s evidence-based alternative-to-placement model are also applied to its work with public safety systems to reduce neighborhood violence. 

YAP® Dallas County’s Behavioral Health Program offers a continuum of mental health to support children and adolescents in their homes, schools and communities. 

YAP®’s services help individuals build resilience and promote healing and mitigate potential negative impacts by connecting youth with supportive adults, providing evidence-based treatments. Aside from Dallas, the Texas program is offered in Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio and surrounding areas.  

“I am preparing for my college and military goals to successfully become a reality,” Jynee added. “I’m still in communication with my Advocate who has been a huge help throughout the school year and encouraged me to follow my dreams.”  

For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org. To donate to the Endowment Fund, click here.  

Chicago Public Schools Network 17 Chief Dr. Myron L. Hester knows firsthand the value of parental involvement in a child’s education. He was the principal at Julian High School for more than two decades and also served as principal of Bowen High School and Kozminski Community Academy.

“In most cases with students with challenges, it’s something at home. Having someone a young person can depend on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can be transformative,” Dr. Hester said. “Throughout my career, whether serving elementary or high school students, I have consistently prioritized social-emotional learning, family engagement, and wraparound supports for students.”

Dr. Hester was among a group of Chicago leaders recognized at Collaborating for Change: Celebrating 20 Years of Unlocking Positive Futures for Youth and Families in Trouble and Crisis. The June 3 dinner was co-hosted by Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. and the University of Chicago Crime and Education Labs.  Marking YAP®’s 20^th anniversary in Chicago, the event honored young people previously in trouble or in crisis who are turning their lives around. The celebration also recognized YAP®’s Chicago-area government, philanthropic, education, and community partners whose support contributes to the organization’s positive youth and family outcomes.  

Founded in 1975, YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, and other systems in communities across the U.S. to deliver family-centered, accountability-focused services as an alternative to correctional and residential care facilities. Principles of the nonprofit’s evidence-based alternative-to-placement model are also applied to its work with public safety systems to reduce neighborhood violence.

Ten years ago, YAP® partnered with Brightpoint to launch Choose to Change®, a program funded by philanthropy, Chicago Public Schools, and the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office that serves Chicago students identified as being at the greatest risk for engaging in violence. Choose to Change® combines intensive individual and family wraparound services with weekly specialized psychotherapy for adolescents responding to chronic stress (SPARCS) sessions.

Under Dr. Hester’s leadership, Julian High School was the first Chicago Public School to implement Choose to Change® services.

“Schools have to communicate with family and here we had trusted adults who came in to fill that gap. It worked out beautifully,” Dr. Hester said. “These programs provide far more than an intervention; they provide students and families with trusted adults, positive role models, and consistent support during some of the most challenging times in their lives. As educators, we know schools cannot do this work alone.”

University of Chicago Crime and Education Labs large-scale randomized controlled trial data found Choose to Change® reduces the number of violent arrests and the likelihood of arrest for a violent offense by 47 percent.

“Strong partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations are essential to helping students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally,” Dr. Hester said. “When we talk about challenges facing young people, the solution is not simply responding to problems after they occur. We must continue investing in programs that connect youth with caring adults, mentoring, mental health supports, and positive opportunities.”

Among YAP®’s Chicago community partners recognized at the anniversary event were Bright Star Pastor Chris Harris, New Life Center’s Matt Mateo, and Autry Phillips at Lifeline to Hope, Inc., leaders of community-based organizations that deliver Choose to Change-informed services. Harris expressed his gratitude for YAP®’s two decades of service and made a $15,000 donation to the nonprofit.

“I have seen firsthand the impact that community partners have had on helping students overcome obstacles and realize their potential. Their work strengthens schools, supports families, and ultimately creates safer, healthier communities for our young people,” Dr. Hester said.

YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAP®’s youth justice participants remain arrest free, and six – 12 months after completing the program, nearly 90% of the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement. Learn more about YAP® at YAPInc.org.

Essex County, NJ – Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. New Jersey Lead Director Curtis Moore is a former program participant turned employee.

“I am not just the director; I was also a participant,” Moore said. “There were a lot of things I did that I could have done differently when I was growing up.”

One of seven children, Moore was 12 years-old when he started getting into trouble following his parent’s divorce and after his father returned to live in Louisiana where the family is originally from. He was involved in gangs, drug dealing, stealing cars, and in-and-out of residential homes and the youth justice system. Moore was referred to YAP® in 1997. 

“He had a rough teenage road,” said Michael Thomas, who was a corrections officer at the youth detention facility where Moore was located. “He had a great sense of leadership, and he always knew what was happening around him. He was an influencer.”

Moore was in the YAP® Essex County Youth Justice Program for three months, but at age 19 he was sent to prison for manslaughter and served 13 years.

“I didn’t see myself doing anything or living past 18 or 19,” Moore said. “Seven days before my 19th birthday, I was facing 30 years for murder. The judge said to me, ‘I don’t see a monster that the state is saying you are.’ I never forgot that Black man in my life who really spoke life into me and said, ‘I see you, I hear you.’”

YAP® is a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, mental health, and other public systems to deliver its community-based services as a safer, more-effective alternative to placing youth in trouble or crisis in corrections and residential treatment facilities. YAP® also partners with public safety and school systems to apply principles of its evidence-based individual and family “wraparound services” approach to reduce violence.

YAP® Advocates are trained to deliver wraparound support to program participants and their parents, guardians and other family members. The evidence-based YAPWRAP® services model helps young people see and nurture their strengths and connects them and their families with individualized resources and support.

“My mother said, ‘if this is the lifestyle that you plan on living, you will either be dead or in jail,’” Moore said.

While locked up, Moore was visited by his family and Thomas, who told him that the wrong choices have consequences. In incarceration, Moore received his high school diploma and associate’s degree. After he was released from prison, he earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from New Jersey’s Kean University.

“After he completed his sentence, he came home and was involved in church, and I started mentoring him again,” added Thomas, who is also a YAP Advocate. “He wanted to help kids and do what he could, so he became  involved with YAP.”

Moore said he was asked to share his story and was a motivational speaker to YAP® program participants before officially being hired in 2017 as a part-time Advocate. He soon moved up the ladder by becoming a program coordinator, assistant director, program director and lead director over New Jersey’s youth justice and outreach programs.

“My very first participant was a really difficult 17-year-old when I started working with him,” Moore recalled, adding he still keeps in contact with the youth who has since moved to Alabama. “He didn’t want to engage or do anything. This was so long ago, before some of the systems we have in place now. The company was doing intakes on paper then.”

To-date, Moore believes he has assisted approximately 100 youths, including former program participant Mufee who was in the program in 2015.

“Growing up I didn’t really know any better and I was doing what these young guys do nowadays like being in the streets and doing bad things,” Mufee said. “I was put in the YAP program and that is how I met Mr. Moore.”

Mufee and Moore took him places, allowed him to work with his mobile car wash to help him make money, and encouraged him to stay out of the streets.

“Once I turned 18, I was done with all that bad stuff, and I’ve never been to jail a day in my life,” Mufee said. “I actually moved away from New Jersey, and life is actually going good for me.”

Now 25, Mufee has a 3-year-old daughter, has relocated to Pennsylvania and is seeking employment.

“[Moore] really made me the man I am today,” he added. “He’s a very good mentor.”

Moore has written several books on community engagement and his experiences. He has authored “I Am a Survivor,” “Tears of Soldier,” “The Advocate,” “From Pain to Power,” and “FIRE.” Additionally, he serves on the Essex County Gun Violence Advisory Board and has been asked to speak about the effects of gun violence throughout the state of New Jersey.

“I am really happy with how things worked out for [Moore],” said Thomas, who has worked for YAP® for 22 years. “It’s really about these kids; it’s not about us. [Moore] is one of a thousand that I’ve seen who have impacted these kids’ lives and helped them to make a positive change.”

For Moore, his “why” is because he was a former YAP® participant.

“I am an advocate at heart, not just for kids but for community,” Moore added. “YAP is a community-based driven organization that is motivated by boots on the ground’s services. This work is my passion. I love what I do and people see it. There are so many Curtis’s who don’t make it out.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

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Davenport, IA — A special Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. luncheon recognized the accomplishments of formerly justice-involved Quad Cities youth and those once identified as being at the greatest risk for violence engagement. 

The event, which took place Saturday, May 16, at The Lincoln Resource Center, was an opportunity for YAP®’s government, philanthropic, and community partners to engage with young people who have benefited from their support of the nonprofit’s work.

Davenport YAP® Advocate David Hines led a panel discussion with former program participants, J’Ciana, Fletcher, and Brennan. The young people also received achievement awards for reaching milestones established in their individualized service plans. Brennan, 15, who served as the event’s featured speaker, said he hesitated to share his story, but that based on how much Hines, who served as his YAP® Advocate, did for him, “I couldn’t say ‘no,’” he said.

“I was 13 when I started making the kinds of decisions that got me locked up,” Brennan said. “At the time, I was a desperate, scared and very hungry boy.”

He told the audience he and his younger brother spent their childhood bouncing from relative to relative, whom he described as having “their own adult problems.”

“So as an adolescent, I had a lot of things to worry about. Things like where am I going to sleep? Where am I going to eat? What do I have to do to survive? Will I be safe?” And so yes, I did what most of you believe you’d never do. I stole food and sometimes money. And I ended up locked up.”

YAP® is a 50-year-old national nonprofit in 31 states and Washington, D.C. that brought its unique family-based, accountability-focused services to Davenport in 2023. The nonprofit partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, mental health, and other public systems to deliver its community-based services as a safer, more-effective alternative to placing youth in trouble or crisis in corrections and residential treatment facilities. YAP® also partners with public safety and school systems to apply principles of its evidence-based individual and family “wraparound services” approach to reduce violence.YAP® Iowa Program Director Michael A. Cole said Quad Cities youth are referred to the nonprofit by county and state youth justice systems and Davenport public schools. 

 “Sustaining and expanding its Quad Cities reach requires government referral partnerships, philanthropic and corporate funding, and continued community collaborations,” Cole said.

Brennan said he had to remain at the detention facility when he completed his time there because he had nowhere to go. He said things began to change in a positive direction when YAP® Advocate David Hines showed up.

“David worked with the social workers to find an adult in my family, willing to take me in. And then when my cousin Jeremy stepped up, David showed up for him, too,” Brennan said. “So today, I’m happy to say that I’m part of a family. I am seeing my strengths. And I’m getting even stronger. I know I’m a smart, mouthy kid who is going places. And thanks to David and Jeremy and YAP® and the foundation I’m building from everything I’ve been through, there’s no stopping me.”

Backed by donor funding, 71 Davenport youth and their parents/guardians have benefitted from YAP®’s intensive youth and family wraparound services.

“Today is a tribute to Quad Cities residents who as youths faced complex challenges and are now working to turn their lives around,” said YAP® Chief Program Officer David Williams. “Your presence here this afternoon means you are committed to being a part of a community that strengthens lives and makes communities safer.”

The nonprofit’s community-based Advocates and mental health professionals are trained to help young people identify and nurture their strengths. Staff simultaneously connect the youth and their parents or guardians with individualized educational, economic, and emotional needs tools to firm their family foundation. Davenport program participants benefit from the nonprofit’s YAP Pursuing Excellence® model, which combines YAP® wraparound services with specialized psychotherapy for adolescents exposed to chronic stress (SPARCS), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy.

“Our services are family-led and accountability-focused,” Williams said.

Community leaders and partners who support YAP’s work who were recognized at the event include:

• Tracy Singleton, Lincoln Resource Center Executive Director Rev. Rogers Kirk, Jr., President and CEO of Together Making a Better Community — TMBC
• Shirleen Martin, representing Davenport NAACP Metrocom Branch President Michael Guster
• Kennon Neal and Jason Otten with Unity Point Center for Alcohol and Drug Services
• Rodney Tatum and Machelle Pemberton, YAP’s Davenport Peace, Juvenile Court School liaisons
• Matt McDowell, who provided mentorship opportunities for young people including asking them to read to summer camp participants here at the Lincoln Resource Center
• Avery Pearl, Assistant Director at the Lincoln Resource Center
• Cherie Henningsen and Nina Laughlin, Unity Point Robert Young Mental Health

Cole and his team also recognized Yolanda Jefferson at Blck Pearl Catering; Kayla Babers with KB Photography; and Morgan Payne with 1814 Event Services.

Among the luncheon attendees were Grinnell College’s VP for Community Engagement and Strategic Planning Monica Chavez-Silva. Monica, who recently joined YAP’s national board of directors. National YAP leaders joining the Quad Cities community leaders included, YAP Chief Program Officer Dave Williams, Chief Operations Officer Joanne Troutman, Vice President of Philanthropy Greg Hollback, Regional Vice President Jamaal Crawford; and Regional Director E’Ron Leveston. In addition to Cole and Hines, YAP Iowa staffers at the event included Alicia Berry Morgan, LaToya Lewis, and Shanda Burrage.

About Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc.: Founded by Tom Jeffers in 1975, YAP collaborates with community and public systems backed by philanthropic funders to deliver four signature programs: Youth and Family Empowerment, Bringing Systems Change, Global Capacity Building, and Investing in Economic Mobility. YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAP®’s youth justice participants remain arrest free, and six – 12 months after completing the program, nearly 90% of the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement. Learn more about YAP and how you can support the national nonprofit’s work at YAPInc.org. 

Join the Movement on June 11

By Kleo Bello

Kleo Bello is from Albania and is a 2026 Global Fellow of Youth Advocate Programs, (YAP®) in Cook County, Ill., through the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) program. YAP® has been participating in Outdoor Office Day since 2021.

As cities continue to grow and people spend more time indoors, a global movement is encouraging workers to reconnect with nature. Outdoor Office Day, founded by Ioana Biris in the Netherlands, promotes the idea of taking work outside, even if only for one day each year.

“It is time to have the conversation about how we work and what we need to feel inspired, productive and connected,” said Biris, who is also a social psychologist and co-owner of Nature Desks. “Both the frantic pace of the modern world and the recent figures about the increasing number of hours we spend in front of our screens or sitting, should make us all rethink the relationship we have with work.”

The initiative was created from a simple but powerful idea that people should work closer to nature. According to the concept behind Outdoor Office Day, modern lifestyles keep individuals surrounded by screens, offices, and urban environments for most of their daily lives. Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this number is expected to increase in the future. Because of this, the founder of this movement believes that reconnecting with outdoor spaces is becoming increasingly important.

The movement has inspired many organizations across different sectors to embrace the concept. Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc., has been among the organizations participating in Outdoor Office Day, using the occasion to bring work outdoors and promote healthier, more engaging work environments. Outdoor Office Day is a lovely collaboration between the YAP®’s Safety and Wellness Committee, which shares pertinent information internally with employees, and the YAP® Global Community that includes sister organizations in Ireland, Australia, Sierra Leone and Guatemala.

A national nonprofit, YAP® partners with public systems to provide individual and family wraparound and mental health services as an alternative to placing young people in trouble or crisis in residential care/treatment and corrections facilities. YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements.

Founded in 2019, Outdoor Office Day encourages companies, students, and workers to step outside traditional office structures and experience a different working atmosphere. The movement highlights how open-air environments can positively influence workplace culture, employee engagement, creativity, and overall well-being.

Research connected to nature and wellness also supports many of these ideas. Spending time outdoors has been associated with reduced stress levels, better focus, improved sleep quality, stronger social interaction, and enhanced creativity. The founder also argues that even small changes such as holding meetings outside, working in parks, or creating greener workspaces, can have a meaningful impact on mental health and productivity.

Outdoor Office Day will take place this year on June 11, when organizations and individuals around the world are encouraged to step outside their usual workplaces and reconnect with nature. YAP®’s continued involvement demonstrates how organizations dedicated to youth development and community engagement recognize the value of outdoor environments in supporting collaboration, creativity, and overall well-being. Through its participation, YAP® reinforces the idea that productive and meaningful work can happen beyond the walls of a traditional office.

“YAP Ireland often has rain but they get out their umbrellas for a walking meeting,” said YAP®’s Vice President of International Development Diana Matteson. “Whether its outdoor spaces at local libraries, porches, back yards, next to ponds with ducks and near chicken coops, community gardens, botanic gardens, public parks, on rooftops, taking over a parking space to make an outdoor office for a day, the YAP community never lacks for innovation and creative approaches whether its Outdoor Office Day or how we work with young people, families, and communities.”

The concept is not about completely replacing offices but about rethinking how work environments affect people. Organizers emphasize that workplaces should become more flexible, human-centered, and connected to wellness. Outdoor Office Day ultimately sends a simple message; sometimes productivity does not come from staying inside longer, but from stepping outside and allowing nature to become part of everyday life.

For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org. Click the link to learn more about Outdoor Office Day.

Kleo Bello is a dedicated journalist and advocate for social change from a small town in Albania. With a background in journalism, he has a deep passion for using media and storytelling to raise awareness about pressing societal issues, particularly domestic violence and poverty. Kleo’s work as an investigative journalist for the TV program Without Trace has allowed him to shed light on child labor challenges and those driving positive change in his community. His commitment extends beyond journalism, as he is also actively involved in a non-profit organization focusing on youth engagement and environmental protection, exemplified by his role in organizing the Vjosa N’Fest festival to raise awareness for the Vjosa River.