AFJ Celebrates Success In the Courtroom And With The Addition Of Our New HIRE Up Security Training

At Avenues for Justice (AFJ), our strength is centered on the continuum of care we provide to our Participants through court advocacy, enrichment services, and daily HIRE Up programming at our community centers. All of which address the root causes of their justice involvement. Our individualized approach ensures that our young people successfully fulfill their court mandates and our HIRE Up programming empowers them to be active participants in navigating their futures. AFJ Court Advocates highlight the achievements of their Participants through court progress reports, helping judges see their strides in meeting the goals outlined in their individualized action plans. With 94% of our Participants avoiding reconviction within three years of enrollment, our impact illustrates that services for education, employment, and mental health wellness, not incarceration, drives sustainable change.

This week, we are proud to share Qushawn’s success story as a Court-Involved Participant. Additionally, we want to highlight AFJ’s in-house security program, in partnership with S&S Security Training, as part of our HIRE Up continuum of services.

SUCCESS IN THE COURTROOM FOR AFJ PARTICIPANT QUSHAWN

In January 2024, Qushawn was arrested on his 19th birthday for criminal possession of a weapon in the first and second degree. After spending two days in central booking, Qushawn quickly realized that he needed guidance and mentorship as he faced four years of prison for felony charges as an adult. Upon his release, Qushawn was referred to AFJ by Manhattan Justice Opportunities (MJO), where he met with Senior Court Advocate, Nelson Valentine. One of the first steps for Qushawn was to enter a guilty plea to felony possession of a weapon. If he completed a year-long mandate at AFJ, the presiding judge could reduce his case to a misdemeanor. Nelson explained to him that he had the opportunity to not serve any prison time, which would circumvent many of the long-term challenges that are often the result of having a felony record.

Per his court mandate, Qushawn had to maintain weekly check-ins for case management with Nelson and attend weekly HIRE Up workshops. At the time of his arrest, he was working full-time at a restaurant and had completed a few college courses. Initially, Qushawn thought that he would not have anything to gain from AFJ’s HIRE Up workshops, but he quickly took a liking to our Legal Rights & Responsibilities workshop. Led by AFJ’s Manager of Court Advocacy, Brian Stanley, the workshop provides the knowledge and tools to inform our Participants of their legal rights and obligations within the justice system. This workshop covers topics such as understanding arrest procedures, courtroom processes, individual rights during interactions with law enforcement, and how to navigate the legal system.

After a year of positive progress reports, Qushawn walked into court for the last time at the end of February alongside Nelson. He was met with applause in the courtroom as his felony was reduced to a misdemeanor by the judge. Qushawn credits Nelson for their meaningful mentoring sessions where he felt heard—unlike past experiences where adults spoke at him rather than listening to what he had to say. Nelson, impressed with Qushawn’s strong work ethic, saw his potential for success early on in his involvement with AFJ. Currently working in the warehouse of a hospital, while pursuing courses in nursing, Qushawn rejoices at his legal matter being resolved.

IN-HOUSE SECURITY TRAINING AT OUR LES COMMUNITY CENTER

AFJ continues to expand our HIRE Up workshops by offering in-house certification training programs, including quarterly cohorts of OSHA-30 and Site Safety, CPR and First Aid training, and Food Handlers training. In 2024, after a growing interest from Participants wanting to earn their security licenses, AFJ’s Job Developer, Shantel Brooks, began searching for potential partnerships with security training providers.  

In September 2024, Shantel reached out to James Geter, the Owner and Founder of S&S Security Training and Services, LLC. James’ company is dedicated to training individuals to be security professionals in the commercial, residential, retail, and entertainment industries. By November, AFJ sent its first cohort of five Participants to complete security training at S&S. After the success of the first cohort, Shantel invited James to facilitate an onsite training of a second cohort at our Lower East Side community center. Sitting in on his course, Shantel was impressed by James’ philosophy to, “empower by building confidence and discipline, in a no-nonsense environment that fosters the joy of learning.”

“I came to AFJ to educate, elevate, and liberate the program’s Participants. I was very impressed by how they quickly absorbed the information that I was teaching. The young people were open, humble, and transparent. I believe everyone deserves a second or even third and fourth chance. When these young people got in trouble, they might have been traumatized by something in their life or lacked the skills to make sound decisions. My hope is that this security certification and class can help improve their skillsets.” ~James Geter, Founder, School Director, and NYS Credentialed Instructor at S&S Security Training

After completing the four-day training, each Participant received their security certification, a fingerprinting appointment, and the F-01 FireGuard test prep. Thanks to our anchor funders, AFJ covered all the costs associated with the training. 

At AFJ, creating a more just future means ensuring young people, like Qushawn, not only meet their court requirements, but also have access to opportunities which lead to long-term success. In 2024, AFJ Participants had 130 successful court outcomes—including dismissals, sealed records, and reduced sentences. Participants also earned 136 industry-recognized certifications.