Engaging Youth for Success

The OJJDP FY 10 Earmarks Program furthers 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 Conference Report to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 111-366 at 702-714.

This project has two distinct components that empower young people of middle and high school age to become change-makers. Both are managed by Mount Wachusett Community College. First, United Way Youth Venture is a partnership between United Way, Ashoka's Youth Venture, local schools and nonprofit organizations. It is a unique youth-led program involving young people in grades 5-12 who create entrepreneurial group projects that provide tangible community benefit resulting in positive behavioral and academic changes in their lives. A direct result of this project will be an expansion in the number of schools and young people who will participate. Second, Citizenship Academy will continue to provide at-risk high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to access college credit, civic engagement and community service through specialized course offerings that focus on how local and state government operates with the participation of local and state government leaders. High school students will demonstrate completion and satisfaction with the coursework and an increased likelihood of attending Mount Wachusett Community College upon graduation. NCA/NCF