The Neighborhood Advocate

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month  Lackawanna County, PA -- When 17-year-old Nevaeh began seeing the fruits of her labor in a pre-employment program in Scranton, PA, she took the opportunity to the next level. Nevaeh was part of a four-person Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Pennsylvania Office of Vocational...

Chicago, IL -- Whether he’s in the barbershop or at a Chicago event, Lee Jones is sharing stories about his job. He’s among those on the frontlines of a movement to transform lives and...

Bagdad, Ariz. -- If someone had told 18-year-old Emarie this time last year that she would be where she is now, she would have highly doubted it.   Emarie will soon head from Bagdad, Arizona to Mesa, where armed with work experience and a great reference from her...

Most young people who’ve received services from Chicago Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. will tell you they have much love and respect for Monique Robbins. YAP is a national nonprofit in 31 states and...

Baltimore – Tumani never thought he would make it to see his 21st birthday. Last year, at age 20, he was almost proved right when he was shot in the head. The shooting (an assailant...

Dauphin County, PA -- Earlier this year, Dauphin County Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Clinical Supervisor Matthew Powery got a call from the mother of the first child he worked with when he started at the nonprofit back...

She knows what it’s like to think outside of the box to get families moving in the right direction Bethlehem, Pa. - When YAP Northampton/Lehigh Counties Family Support Specialist Cheryl Hopkins learned about Zeneida Torres...

Seminole County, Fla. -- Vita looks at her math and science assignment grades and can hardly believe what she sees – 80s and 90s in math and 100% in science! The Seminole County, Florida...

Philadelphia – At age 14, he threatened a teacher; but instead of lockup, Alonzo got a personal Advocate. Four years after completing his program at Philadelphia Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., Alonzo was one of...

This weekend, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.'s new Alternatives to Violence (ATV) team will be among those at the Charlotte, Mecklenburg County QC Fest. ATV, a Cure Violence Global model violence interruption program, will apply...

Theirs are among too many stories lost in news headlines about gun violence in their neighborhoods. They are young people who are thriving because of their individual strengths, fostered by Chicago’s Choose to Change program, also known as...

Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., partners with the Yavapai County Juvenile Probation Department to provide community-based alternatives to youth incarceration and out-of-home placement. A nonprofit in 31 states and the District of Columbia, YAP...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzQXgGXaGCw Abdul just turned 18 and for the first time in a long time sees his life moving in a positive direction. He describes the past few years as ones consumed with arrests, school absences,...

Chicago - In high school, Melanie was failing nine credits and felt like graduation was impossible. Approximately two years ago she was in a domestic battery situation that resulted in her being removed from her...

Alameda County, Calif. -- By the time Raiden was 15, he’d grown so tired of getting picked on and beat up that he figured the only way to ward off the tough guys was...