Avenues for Justice Expands Our HIRE Up Certification Trainings

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At Avenues for Justice (AFJ), we are proud to continue our 45-year track record of providing court advocacy and wraparound services to meet the individualized needs of our Participants by helping them make positive lifestyle choices through knowledge and resources. This week, we are excited to highlight advancements in our OSHA-30, Site Safety, Flaggers, and Scaffolding trainings, our new Security training certification cohort, and the launch of a culinary workshop in partnership with the Belafonte Family Foundation.

Expanding Construction Training

In 2024, 44 Participants have earned certifications in construction safety, including OSHA-30, Site Safety, Flaggers, and Scaffolding. June marked our largest cohort to date, with 19 Participants completing all four certifications, followed by 14 more certifications earned last week. These trainings, offered at no cost to our Participants, are facilitated by Shahiem Mendez of Partner Set 360 LLC. They help meet the requirements of NYC’s Local Law 196, preparing our young people for opportunities in the construction industry while teaching them about the importance of site safety to reduce job-site-related accidents. AFJ’s OSHA-30 trainings are also open to the family members of our Participants, clients from peer organizations, along with community members and Program Graduates.

This fall, AFJ partnered with the Positive Learning Center (PLC) in Harlem to extend our trainings to even more at-risk and justice-involved young adults in our communities. More notably, 50% of Participants in this cohort identified as young women—a reflection of AFJ’s increased gender-based programming.

‍Opening Doors in Security

AFJ recently launched our first Security certification cohort in partnership with S&S Security Training and Services in the Bronx. While we have previously assisted Participants with obtaining their security certifications, this cohort marks the first time AFJ has organized a formal group training. AFJ’s Job Developer, Shantel, connected with several providers to find the best fit and identified S&S Security Training as an excellent option for our young people. Five Participants completed the training, and with growing interest, a waitlist is already in place for the next cohort set to begin February 2025.

Shantel sees security training as a valuable pathway for our Participants. With strong entry-level salaries and opportunities to work across the city, the field offers a chance to expand horizons while building stable careers. A great example of this is Malik Rainey, AFJ’s 2024 Second Chance Award recipient, who earned his security license and has been working successfully in the field for over three years. Looking ahead, Shantel hopes to bring security training directly to AFJ’s community centers, making the program even more accessible.

‍A Recipe for Success

On Monday evening, in partnership with the Belafonte Family Foundation (BFF), AFJ kicked off the first evening of our 7- week cooking workshop called "Food for Thought," at our Harlem Community Center. Set to be held on Monday evenings from November 18th to December 30th, the workshop will offer a unique and therapeutic experience tailored to young adults, blending culinary skills with emotional well-being. Led by licensed clinical social worker, Judy Rosch, who brings together her expertise and passion for cooking, the program will foster creativity and mindfulness allowing Participants to express themselves while learning to prepare nutritious meals. Through the art of cooking, Participants will build confidence, develop a sense of community, and learn valuable life skills while exploring ways to manage and balance their emotions. The act of preparing food becomes a powerful outlet for self-discovery and stress relief, making it an effective form of therapy that nourishes the body, the mind, and the soul.  

“The goal for ‘Food for Thought’ is to empower young people with knowledge and experience to gain life skills with a focus on cooking & nutrition, socialization skills and strengthen self-confidence,” says workshop lead, Judy Rosch. “The program takes a growth mindset perspective which views challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, with the idea of building resilience within these young people.”

AFJ’s Program and Activities Coordinator, Jessica Bachman, says “We're thrilled to kick off this new workshop in partnership with the Belafonte Family Foundation! Monday’s launch was a resounding success, bringing together 11 enthusiastic Participants eager to explore culinary skills and mental well-being. This program not only nourishes the body but also enriches the mind, empowering our youth with essential tools for a brighter future!"

During the first session of the series, Judy opened by saying, “I want to create a safe space where no one feels judged based on their skill level.” From start to finish, she coached each group on how to prepare their meals and encouraged being open-minded to new experiences.

With a collective mission of bettering Black and Brown lives through innovative hands-on learning and providing unparalleled resources, BFF and AFJ look to continue our partnership into 2025. Similarly to AFJ’s work in reducing recidivism rates and providing new initiatives to inspire their young people, The Belafonte Family Foundation has created programs like Tween & Teen Tik-Talk Space, addressing important topics such as bullying, abuse, eating disorders, and racism, Bright Road Farms (BRF) a state-of-the-art urban vertical farming initiative, Mentorship through both the martial and performing arts, as well as Academic Scholarships.

“The Belafonte Family Foundation could not be more excited about this partnership and serving the members of Avenues for Justice,” says David and Malena Belafonte - Co-Founders of BFF. “A longtime friend of ours, Judy brought her concept of culinary therapy to us, and together we created this program that is meant to be adaptable, versatile, and expandable to benefit the needs of at-risk youth and foundations such as AFJ.”  

As we work towards wrapping up this historic year, we are excited to reflect on the ongoing success of our existing  programs and the new partnerships which continue to strengthen our community impact. None of this would be possible without the support of the entire AFJ village. Thank you for being a part of our work as we move forward into the next chapter of our journey, building on 45 years of progress and growth!