The Yonkers Public Schools and My Brothers Keeper will benefit from a new three-year grant that will build on existing activities and expand strategies to prevent and reduce youth violence. The new project, called Project P.A.V.E. (Prevention, Anti-Violence, Empowerment) will provide support for high school students who have been targets, bystanders, or perpetrators of bullying and/or violent acts. The grant will also provide funding for mentoring, job readiness coaching, and internships for high school students in partnership with My Brother’s Keeper.
The grant was awarded by the US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention under their Enhancing School Capacity to Address Youth Violence initiative. Student Assistance Services (SAS) Corporation, a non-profit agency based in Tarrytown, providing substance use and bullying prevention and adolescent mental health treatment for Westchester youth, will oversee the grant. Social workers and mental health counselors called Prevention Specialists using evidence-based strategies will partner with school staff and community agencies to work with impacted youth and their families.
“Our children have limitless potential to change the world, and it is my job to deliver the resources needed to help them thrive,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16). “That’s why I am thrilled that federal funds are going to holistic youth violence prevention in Yonkers schools through this initiative. This funding will allow My Brother’s Keeper, Student Assistance Services, Yonkers Public Schools, and their partners to increase mental health services and trauma-informed care for students, which will decrease bullying and violent incidents on school grounds. I was excited to advocate for this funding for the NY-16 community, and cannot wait to see the work done with these resources.”
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano stated “Yonkers My Brother’s Keeper continually raises the bar for our youth. With the investment provided by the Project P.A.V.E. grant, our young men of color can be provided the additional community and mentoring resources needed to combat violence and bullying. Special thanks to our Yonkers Public Schools, Student Assistance Services and Congressman for their leadership in supporting our children’s future.”
