Rockaway Community Justice Center Provides Variety of Services to People of Queens
Since its opening in April 2020, the Rockaway Community Justice Center has served many purposes for supporting the people of Queens. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of extreme financial hardship faced by Rockaway residents, staff at the RCJC developed a variety of services for community members, including food support, housing services, tax support, immigration advocacy, and more. The primary purpose, however, has always been to provide Rockaway residents a restorative alternative to involvement in criminal court.
Most recently, four clients referred by the Queens County District Attorney have successfully completed the restorative process, and are actively engaged in Queens Defenders' supportive services. Two of these clients have completed OSHA trainings to obtain their OSHA-30 Certificate. All four clients were provided with consultations to identify additional needs. Each client received support for housing, career readiness, community services opportunities, and counseling. All four clients are connected to Queens Defenders, and will continue to receive services for as long as needed.
In addition to the clients referred to the community court, over 20 clients have completed mandated community service hours at the RCJC within the last three months. These activities include helping with food distributions, engaging in job training services and resume writing, and participating in other online trainings relevant to their needs. When clients come through the RCJC, Queens Defenders staff ensures they are connected with additional services to improve their lives.
Queens Defenders continues to work closely with the Queens District Attorney’s office to obtain referrals and prevent further court involvement for young people in the justice system.
BLANK Project Walks on a Journey to Awareness
The Queens Defenders BLANK Project was created to build leaders and activists in a new culture. Members of the BLANK Project learn about law, organize rallies, marches, and fight for social justice.
Since its inception in November 2020, the BLANK Project has come a long way. In the first half of 2021, The BLANK Project has held various community engagement events and virtual town halls. Thus far, the group has had community discussions about Foster Care Awareness, Police Reform, LGBTQIA+ Rights, Stop AAPI Hate, Black Lives Matter, and more.
To commemorate all of these events, the BLANK Project organized a 50-block walk called ‘Journey to Awareness,’ starting from Beach 67th Street and ending on Beach 17th Street. The event took place on July 27th, and had many youth participants join the walk.
At every 10-block interval, stations were set up in which participants engaged in different activities to honor different topics:
- Beach 57th Street celebrated Black Lives Matter. At this station, each person to shout a protest chant.
- Beach 47th Street celebrated LGBTQIA+ Awareness. At this station, each person finger painted a rainbow and left their handprint on the poster.
- Beach 37th Street celebrated Stopping AAPI Hate. At this station, participants took pictures with the Stop Asian Hate posters that were made at a previous rally.
- Beach 27th Street celebrated Awareness of New Policing. At this station, each person received a pamphlet on what to do in a police encounter. Also, there was a discussion about different things police officers can do to become involved in the community.
- Beach 17th Street celebrated Foster Care Awareness. At this station, participants wrote messages on the boardwalk using chalk to spread awareness and love for foster youth.
Throughout the walk, participants engaged in conversations about current events and the importance of the events put on by the BLANK Project. Keep an eye out for future BLANK Project events acknowledging various social justice issues.
To join the BLANK Project, reach out to Alexandra Brathwaite at abrathwaite@queensdefenders.org.
Queens Defenders Commends Manhattan DA's No Cash Bail Decision, Strongly Encourages Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to Follow
September 29, 2021
Queens Defenders – a Queens-based public defender organization – commends Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance for his decision yesterday to not ask for cash bail for many nonviolent offenses.
Considering the ongoing revelations of the deplorable, inhumane, and intolerable conditions at Rikers Island, Queens Defenders strongly encourages the Office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to immediately follow suit and stop seeking cash bail.
Queens Defenders attorneys are committed to working with the Queens District Attorney’s Office and the Courts to find alternative solutions for individuals accused of crimes that can include unsecured, partially secured, and supervised release, released on their own recognizance, mental health, and substance abuse treatment, electronic monitoring for more serious crimes, and other options.
Such options will ensure our fellow New York City residents are not needlessly incarcerated at Rikers Island solely because they and their families cannot afford cash bail. Additionally, those with substance use challenges, mental health issues, and other disabilities can receive the treatment they need in their communities rather than jail.
Over the last year, the unacceptable conditions at Rikers Island have been brought into public view. Our city’s public defenders have long been aware of Rikers’ reputation and the devastating and often life-threatening impact it has had on the individuals we serve. In the last several weeks, we have seen increased coverage of and strong public response to the needless injury and death of our clients – 12 so far this year. We have been beyond the point of needing action for a long time and are encouraged by decisions like those from DA Vance and Governor Hochul’s disaster emergency declaration for Rikers Island.
We must do more.
Now is the time to do something. Now is the time to act in the best interest of all New Yorkers, especially our low-income neighbors who have fewer options to pay cash bail and are disproportionally – and unnecessarily – held at Rikers Island. This injustice is particularly harmful to our clients who have pled not guilty and are awaiting their day in court from a prison cell.
The Queens District Attorney’s office can take a leadership role and stand for ensuring the health and safety of our city’s residents by ending cash bail for non-violent felonies and seeking release with conditions for more serious offenses.
Youth Spotlight: Alliyah
Education. Advocacy. Community. These words are at the center of Alliyah’s efforts.
Alliyah began volunteering with Queens Defenders when she was in high school. She participated in Youth Justice Court at both the Queens Library for Teens and her high school, Channel View School for Research. Alliyah has always been a leader among her peers. She recently completed her freshman year at St. John’s University and plans to attend law school upon graduation.
As a Young Adult Leader for Queens Defenders, Alliyah works both in the Outreach Center and the Rockaway Community Justice Center. She serves as a tutor to younger children and her peers, and as an advocate for college readiness. Most recently, Alliyah led a college awareness series that culminated with a virtual panel of college and high school advisors. At this event, Alliyah facilitated discussion amongst the panelists about financial aid, scholarships, and tips for paying for college. This event reached nearly 50 high school students thanks to Alliyah’s hard work.
Alliyah strives to make a difference in Rockaway through community engagement with youth and families. She is committed to helping others and advocating for young people. Alliyah is very involved in the community as a member of the Queens Defenders team, but her work does not stop there. For two years, Alliyah volunteered for the Youth Restorative Justice program through the NYC Department of Education. Through that, she facilitated restorative circles both in school and around New York City. Alliyah is a sociology major at St. John’s University, where she is currently enrolled in the ROTC program. Her goal is to become a lawyer and open her own nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people. The Community Outreach team at Queens Defenders is proud to watch Alliyah grow and excel through her hard work and dedication.
Mentees Celebrate End of Year Success
On Tuesday, July 13, the Queens Defenders Jamaica Youth Program held a closing ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of the youth participants this past year. This group of young people have shown their commitment to bettering themselves through our mentoring program. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the young people continued to show up ready and willing to engage in programming every week. This past year showed that they can overcome many challenges through the support of their peers, mentors, family members, and Queens Defenders staff.
At the ceremony, the three high school graduates were honored with an engraved crystal to applaud their hard work and determination in achieving such an incredible milestone amid a pandemic and personal trials. Two students were awarded their GED after passing the TASC exam, and one student graduated from high school. All ten program participants received certificates and a small token of appreciation in recognition of their consistency and dedication to the youth program.
Queens Defenders staff shared encouraging words with the youth and reminisced about the many good times they shared together. The youth, who were accustomed to coming into the office for weekly workshops, graciously made the transition to a virtual platform. This summer, the youth will go on several outings together to celebrate their accomplishments in person.
The team at Queens Defenders is incredibly proud of these young people and all they have accomplished. We look forward to seeing what their futures hold!
To learn more about our Jamaica Youth Program, visit here.
College Ready Panel Discusses How to Pay for College
On Thursday, May 20th, Queens Defenders hosted a panel discussion focused on how to pay for college. Facilitated by Queens Defenders Young Adult Leader Alliyah, panelists answered a series of questions about financial aid, loans, scholarships, and more.
Panelists included Stephanie Whitener of Columbia College, Lucila Villaquiran of Monroe College, John Restrepo of Queens High School for Information, Research & Technology, and Princess Hosein of New Visions Charter High School.
The event was sponsored by the Meringoff Family Foundation. One lucky participant walked away with a brand new Chromebook.
Nearly 50 high school students and parents joined the virtual discussion to hear tips and tricks about paying for college. The expert panelists shared advice and knowledge based on their own experiences teaching and counseling both college and high school students. The Q&A portion at the end of the event allowed participants to get answers to specific questions about unique circumstances.
Missed the event? You can watch a recording of the entire session here.
Queens Defenders Provides Free Tax Assistance to Rockaway Community
In partnership with the Food Band of New York City, Queens Defenders provided nearly 200 people with free tax assistance.
This initiative ran from February 2021 through May 2021, seven days a week. Residents from across the borough came to our Rockaway Community Justice Center for help with their taxes. Queens Defenders staff helped community members complete their taxes safely and securely.
The word quickly spread through the Rockaway community about this free service, which led to some much-needed relief for community members. One woman stopped by, unsure if she owed taxes or not. After her taxes were complete, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was entitled to a refund. She said, “You have no idea how much your team helped not only me, but the entire community with this service. The money I saved today will help me to buy food for my family.”
In addition to the money saved from this free tax service, many participants walked away with a free box of food from our food pantry. Queens Defenders is happy to serve our community members from free tax support to providing food justice to all.
Learn more about the supportive services we offer here.
Chalk Walk Raises Awareness for Foster Youth
In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, the Queens Defenders Community Team participated in a “Chalk Walk” along the Rockaway boardwalk.
On May 25th, people of all ages from around the community gathered to spread awareness about foster care. Participants wrote notes in chalk along the boardwalk, consisting of both facts about foster care and messages of support for foster youth. Others held posters as they marched along the way.
Residents of the St. John’s Home for Boys joined, along with other community partners including local officers and the Rockaway Wave. Seeing messages of support was a heart-warming experiences for the youth in foster care. Everyone walked with a smile on their face, excited to spread awareness about a topic so near to us.
Queens Defenders works with residents of the St. John’s Home for Boys on a weekly basis, providing workshops and restorative services twice per week. These young men are passionate about their community and advocating for themselves and their peers. This event allowed the community to show their support for these young men.
To learn more about our work with St. John’s Home for Boys, visit here.
carousel highlight - 170 Rockaway students
Justice Matters. It’s Your Right.
170 Rockaway students have been trained as Youth Justice Court advocates since 2010. 77 QD felony youth cases were transferred from Criminal Court to Family Court in 2019.
Queens Defenders & Queens Public Library Partnership Program Helps 25 Recent Parolees with Tech Resources
In its first few months, The Immediate Access: Technology Re-entry Program, developed by Queens Defenders and The Queens Public Library, has already equipped twenty-five parolees who were recently released with mobile devices, a data plan, and access to Tech Navigators, who help participants access services, complete housing assistance applications, apply for jobs, and more. This program will expand to serve seventy-five individuals over the next two years.
This innovative program aims to support participants in many ways now that the world has so dramatically changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals returning to their communities from incarceration have to navigate more digital – and in many ways more complex – job markets and application processes, communications platforms, and basic services like securing a driver’s license or ID card. Immediate Access participants are guided by 1:1 Tech Navigators to get their ID’s, participate in OSHA trainings and general job readiness services to lead to employment. In addition, they can use their internet access to enroll in schools, workshops, and programs that support successful pathways based on their interests.
Queens Defenders Program Director Brandon Jefferies said of the program, “The Immediate Access Program, funded though the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is a collaboration with Queens Library helping people on parole that deal with wide ranging service gaps coming home. In society today, without technology and necessities such as ID’s, the barriers turn into a traumatizing reality. Couple that with COVID-19 and it can feel insurmountable. Technology Navigators provide free training to individuals recently released from prison and help them achieve success with a phone, data plan, and other support services. I believe that this Queens Defenders collaboration with Queens Public Library can create a new standard of care for those coming home.”
25 participants are currently receiving free smart phones, data plans, skills training, and job training from our recently hired Technology Navigators Andres Rossel and Tiffany Antiles. These Navigators provide each participant with resources that are needed to take on this technology focused world and avoid recidivism.
For more information about the grant that funded this program read the press release here