3510 Capital City Blvd. Lansing, MI 48906-2102
Phone 515.316.4000 / Fax: 517.316.4490 / TTY/TTD 517.316.4103
www.peckham.org
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shavonne Singleton
July 16, 2014 Public Relations Specialist
Phone: 517.316.4129 Cell 517.204.7360
Peckham’s Next Step Program Offers Youth Education, Career Opportunities, More than a Second Chance
LANSING- Charles is a 20-year-old high school drop-out with a history in the juvenile justice system. On paper, it didn’t look like he had much of a chance to succeed in life—that is until he became involved with Peckham, a non-profit organization serving people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, including individuals involved with the justice system through its youth programs. After completing Peckham’s Next Step program last year, Charles completely changed his life. He is now working with a local trucking company and earning a yearly salary of $40,000.
“It is amazing to see what can happen with a self-motivated young man when given the opportunity to thrive in a program like Next Step in only six months,” said Sarah Britton, Youth Program Manager at Peckham, “He could have chosen to fall in line with a future predicted by his juvenile court involvement, but he didn’t.”
Peckham’s Next Step Program offers young adults with juvenile history a chance for a clean record and a pathway to a variety of career opportunities. The program works with individuals from ages 18 to 21 years old with a juvenile record, offering them opportunities to get work experience, preparation for college, or vocational training. The participants also give back during their time in the program by volunteering in a variety of community programs.
This year alone, the Next Step program has served more than 100 young adults in Lansing. Fifty percent have obtained their GED or an industry recognized credential. Nearly 60% have enrolled in secondary education or earned a job, and 92% have refrained from committing new crimes.
According to Communications Consultant Kevin Lignell at the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, investing in local community-based programs to deter future system-involvement is a wise decision. “Kids who spend significant time in the juvenile justice system are less likely to finish their education and more likely to commit crime again in the future,” said Lignell. “Community-based programs like Next Step can help reverse these trends.”
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For Krystal, the Next Step Program was motivation to restart her education. Krystal became a mom as a teenager, forcing her to drop out of school. Although she was able to obtain a job in a fast food restaurant, she knew she didn’t want to stay there for the rest of her life.
Within a couple of months in the Next Step Program, Krystal passed all sections of her GED and started a new plan to enroll in college. Krystal now attends a local community college as a full-time student studying business while maintaining a full-time job.
“For those young people who are motivated for a different life, the Next Step program has the resources and support to help transition young people into the future they were meant to achieve,” said Britton.
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The Next Step program is funded by a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Peckham is among 25 community-based organizations across the country awarded one of the nearly $50 million in grants. The Labor Department awarded the grants through a competitive process, open to national and regional organizations that have experience in operating multi-site projects and serving young adult offenders.
Peckham serves more than 300 youth each year across eight programs. While the programs vary, the mission is the same; enhance the opportunities for young people to improve their life circumstances through work.
Peckham, Inc. is a nonprofit community vocational rehabilitation organization that values quality, diversity and performance. Our mission is to provide a wide range of opportunities to maximize human potential for persons striving for greater independence and self-sufficiency.
To learn more about Peckham, visit www.peckham.org. For more information regarding Department of Labor training programs, visit http://www.doleta.gov/RExO/aboutRExO.cfm.
Next Step July Volunteer Activities
· Thursday, July 10, 2014, 1 – 3:15 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Volunteers of America Thrift Store located at 5411 S Cedar St, Lansing Charter Township, MI 48911, organizing and hanging clothes, cleaning display racks, and sweeping/mopping floors.
· Friday, July 11, 2014, 12:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Peckham Farm located at 5408 W. Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906, spreading mulch, pulling weeds from gardens, and various gardening tasks.
· Tuesday, July 15, 2014, 2:30 - 4:45 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering in Lansing community through Volunteers of America, meeting at 3510 Capital City Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906, delivering new mattresses to those in need.
· Wednesday, July 16, 2014, 1 - 3:15 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Greater Lansing Food Bank located at 2116 Mint Rd, Lansing, MI 48906, sorting food, beverages, and household items into designated bins.
· Thursday, July 17, 2014, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Volunteers of America Community Kitchen, 430 N Larch St, Lansing, MI 48912, serving food and beverages to those in need.
· Tuesday, July 22, 2014, 2:30 - 4:45 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Lansing City Market located at 325 City Market Dr, Lansing, MI 48912, spreading mulch and pulling weeds from gardens.
· Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 2 - 4 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at City Rescue Mission located at 607 East Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48912, cleaning dining room area and rain gardens, assisting kitchen personnel with food preparation, and washing windows.
· Thursday, July 24, 2014, 1 - 3:15 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Cristo Rey Community Center located at 1717 N High St, Lansing, MI 48906, cleaning kitchen area and outdoor yard work.
· Thursday, July 31, 2014, 12:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Community Give Back Volunteering at Jazz Fest located at Old Town Lansing, at the intersection of Turner St. and E. Grand River Ave, setting up events, decorating, dressing tables, putting up lights, and staging supplies.
For more information about these Next Step volunteer activities, contact Jon Lewandowski, Peckham Transition Liaison at 517-316-4364, or by cell phone at 231-499-2784.