Red Hook Justice - Your Community. Your Court.

The holiday season has been a busy one for the department of Youth & Community Programs! Recently, a few patrol officers and the Neighborhood Coordination Officers of PSA1 took our Youth Court members on a day trip to the Police Academy located in College Point, Queens. They received a tour of the facilitates, which included classrooms, a gymnasium, a court-room, model precinct and a subway car platform. In the words of one of our members “it was nice to see what police officers have to go through to become a part of the department, I didn’t realize how challenging the training can be.” We concluded the trip with lunch and a karaoke car ride home! The officers came up with the idea of the trip as a form of neighborhood policing, but also to allow the youth to learn about the process of becoming a police officer. We are planning on visiting in the New Year with our new cohort of Youth Court members. In addition, an officer from the PSA1 kindly donated a b...

Check out this article! Reflections from Monash University law school graduate, Alix Friedman, after her time interning at the Red Hook. Use the following link:  http://jewishwomenofwords.com.au/alternative-justice /

Last week has been a busy one for the Office of Youth and Community programs! Pumpkin Painting Party – 10/24 A few officers from our local precinct, PSA 1 originally came to us with a list of ideas for events centered on neighborhood policing. The first event we were able to collaborate for was the Pumpkin Painting Party on Tuesday. Our Mural room was decorated with Halloween décor and different activity stations that included, face painting, pumpkin painting and a games like pin the tail on the cat. Every child was able to leave with a pumpkin, candy bag, coloring book and bookmark. In addition our Mock Court room was transformed in to a spooky CarnEVIL themed room where we scared the mess out of kids, teens and our bravest of staff members. Many Justice Center staff members went in together and were so excited to go in and get spooked out. Lunch with Officers - 10/25 Apart of our Bridging the Gap Series: Youth, Community & Police we are now working with local schools...

On October 19th, over 30 community members, Red Hook Community Justice Center staff, and Red Hook  Youth Court members marched in a Peace Walk to raise awareness about Domestic Violence – a critical issue that impacts many within our community.     Red Hook CARES (Counseling & Restorative Services) hosted this event in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month, and the event aimed to empower individuals to stand up and step out against domestic violence and intimate partner violence.  Domestic Violence Police Officers from the 76 th Precinct, NCOs from PSA1, and a representative from local non-profit Center for Family Life joined with community members in denouncing domestic violence while wearing RHCJC T-Shirts and carrying signs with slogans like “Love Shouldn’t Hurt.” Carlotta Walcott (Coordinator of Women’s Services at the Hidden Victims Project) and Mariama Diallo (the Project Director for the African Initiative at Sanctuary for Families...

On September 8 th , Women in Touch, Red Hook CARES (Counseling and Restorative Services), and the Justice Center’s Americorps members joined together to host a community free store in Coffey Park. The Women in Touch office on Richards Street is getting a revamp and our first step was clearing out the clothing and items to make way for the new! Women in Touch has been a long time resource and space for the community of Red Hook and the CARES team is super excited to join them in this project. However; CARES and WIT couldn’t have done it without the help of the Americorps members, who spent all day clearing out the Richards Street apartment and organizing items to give away in the free store. Community members dropped in throughout the day to shop, enjoy some lemonade, and chat about what’s to come in the new space. The Women in Touch office on 135 Richards Street will continue to be a safe, community space. We are re-decorating and furnishing the space to make ...

The Red Hook Community Resilience Corps joined the Student Conservation Association to honor 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance on Governors Island.  Following the events of September 11 Governors Island hosted the National Guard and first responders. Today, we are reminded that New York City is stronger and more resilient because of the service and dedication of individuals. AmeriCorps members worked on the Green Zone and improved the trail paths on the island. The members took pride in giving back and doing something positive! 

Yesterday evening, Red Hook staff, community residents, business owners, local law enforcement and politicians joined together to celebrate Red Hook’s 23 rd  Annual National Night Out Against Crime! Over thirty organizations participated in our resource fair, including New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Carroll Gardens Association and Rebuilding Together just to name a few. A number of elected officals including Councilmembers Lander, Menchaca, Senator Squadron, and Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez spoke a few words, and thanked everyone for coming together and working to make Red Hook a safer community. Activites included pony rides, face painting and relay races between officers and youth. Overall, we had a great turn out and it was very rewarding to see everyone interacting especially with law enforcement. We would like to thank all of the Justice Center staff for helping to put this together and work throughout the event, our court officers Josh ...

Last week the Office of Youth and Community Programs at the Justice Center celebrated our 1 year anniversary in our Bridging the Gap Series: Youth, Community and Police! Youth, community members, officers, guests and parents all joined together at Brooklyn Borough Hall to reflect on the work we have been able to do within the last year. For a few years now, this was just an idea that we were finally able to bring to fruition with the help of PSA1s then Neighborhood Coordination Officer (NCO), Edgard Centeno last July. The objective of our series is to educate our youth and community members on how to build and improve relationships with police, and allow them a safe space to interact. Incidents over the years have caused broken seams between police officers and the communities they serve. Thus, we wanted to create events where all parties could be heard and bridge that gap. A few keynote speakers included Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna, Assistant Chief Rodney Harri...

The Red Hook Community Resilience Corps hosted their 2 nd annual “Earth Day Event” last month in April. Over 70 children from the Red Hook Community joined the celebration.  The afternoon consisted of arts and crafts activities, face painting pot décor and flower planting.  The Americorps members were joined by staff of GrowNYC, who  have been working closely with GrowNYC, developing ways of bringing awareness to the community on Recycling.  In addition, to the fun activities children had the opportunity along with their parents to receive information and literature on tips for recycling in their homes. They participated in a fun and interactive recycling game that tested their current knowledge on recycling. Families left the event thinking about recycling and their responsibility to care for earth, especially children who carried their pots home in hopes that their seeds would bloom into flowers with their care.   ...

This week, Red Hook CARES threw its first ever community event in celebration of Women’s History Month!  The theme Mind, Body and Soul helped remind the strong, talented, hardworking and beautiful women in this building and in our community to appreciate one another and take some time out of their day to take care of their health, wellness, and spirit. A delicious spread of dishes and desserts contributed by staff were recipes “inspired by women who inspired them.” Khadijah James from Joseph Addabo Health Center provided free blood pressure and health screens. Professional make-up artist Louis Cruz did extravagant full makeovers. Our own Marissa Williams did hair styling, Deanna Cherry from Red Hook Initiative led relaxation activities and spa activities. Arts and craft stations allowed people to decorate “dream boxes” for themselves or a special woman in their life with inspirational messages. Samora Coles provided information about her services for young mother...

Earlier this month AmeriCorps, Peacemaking, Youth Programs and Women in Touch joined together to Celebrate Black History Month ! We held a fundraiser auctioning off photography from past JustArts: Photography classes and special art pieces created by AmeriCorps members, Peacemaking participants and Alice Tapia. We also had a dance performance from two of our very own Youth Court members. Special thank you to everyone who made food and art donations. Lastly, thank you Sequoia from our AmeriCorps program for leading the charge and all of the AmeriCorps members and staff who stood late to clean up! #GOREDHOOK