Check out some of our 2014 highlights!

Looking Back: Newark Youth Court in 2014

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2014 NCS Holiday Gift Drive Wrap Party

Twas six days before Christmas and all through City Hall, NCS staff and volunteers were having a ball! With toys and games all lined up neatly in rows, we got to work wrapping with boxes, ribbons and bows! 

Ok I promise no more poorly parodied poetry, I was just moved by the holiday spirit because this past Saturday, Newark Community Solutions held its Fourth Annual Holiday Gift Drive "Wrap Party." This year's drive once again supported the Angel Tree Network, a program that facilitates holiday season gift donations to children with at least one incarcerated parent. NCS has been very proud to partner with Angel Tree to serve Newark families.  Over 125 gifts were donated by Newark City employees as well as local organizations such as the Trust for Public Land, the Greater Newark Conservancy, the GI Go Fund, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, and Sigma Phi Rho Fraternity Inc. Volunteers and staff mingled, snacked and wrapped all morning and in the afternoon Newark families began arriving to pick up the gifts.  Youth court members invited all kids in attendance to their arts and crafts station where they decorated sugar cookies and made candy cane reindeer and glittery holiday cards.  Some adults even got in on the action!

This event keeps getting better every year thanks to our dedicated staff, amazing partners, and awesome volunteers. 

On behalf of the whole NCS team please have a happy and health holiday season. We will see you in 2015!

Young Leaders for Change Awards

On Saturday December 15th, Newark Youth Court members Kianna George and Sideeq Waziri were presented with the Young Leaders for Change Award by the All Stars Project of New Jersey. The awards are given to young people in the city of Newark or surrounding areas that are actively working to advance the quality of life for youth in the city. Kianna and Sideeq were selected because of their outstanding work during the 2014 Newark Youth Court summer session, and for consistently taking on leadership roles as Youth Court members.

The All Stars Project is a national non-profit organization that uses performance as a means of development to help young people foster success in their lives.  Last year, youth court members, respondents, and staff attended several of the All Stars Project of New Jersey's "Breakthrough Days," a Saturday workshop that gets people of all ages involved in activities based on performance.  Newark Youth Court staff are actively working with the All Stars Project to set up monthly tours for interested respondents and members.

Congratulations to Kianna and Sideeq on this wonderful accomplishment!