Neighbors Empowering Youth's Computer Repair & Training Apprenticeship Project

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

Neighbors Empowering Youth's (NEY) Computer Repair & Training Apprenticeship Project proposes to support the depressed areas of Pasadena and Altadena, California by developing and implementing an effective and coordinated prevention and intervention program aimed at under-served low-income teens. This program will address gaps in job training and opportunities and teen violence prevention as identified through local needs assessments. The target populations for the project are teens ages 17 and under at risk for juvenile delinquency, gang membership and school failure. The goals are to: 1) Provide a safe and nurturing after-school environment for teens to learn computer science and application skills; 2)Train 30-50 teens from high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) to repair and refurbish computers; 3)Build knowledge in business principles and retail operations skills among 10-15 teen participants; and 4) Increase computer literacy and placement of 100 computers in underserved populations within the NW Pasadena/Altadena area. Activities will include: computer repair classes and services, providing computers to low income residents, teaching residents how to use computers, and lessons on business principles and repair operations. Progress will be measured by implementing sound evaluation practices; among them pre and post tests, and skills building assessments. NCA/NCF