Street Soldiers
Street Soldiers is a male youth involvement initiative that assists young men in acquiring the skills necessary to eliminate violence from their lives and communities.
This project provides 30 young men, ages 12 through 17, a supportive safe environment to discuss difficult issues specific to them and learn essential coping skills. In addition, they develop positive relationships with peers and adults who promote pro-social behaviors and develop a positive connection to their communities.
We provide intervention and education activities: Individual counseling; Case management; Peer group activities; Speak-out forums; Cultural arts, such as a poetry slam; Youth-led service learning projects.
Ultimately, there are three purposes to this program:
- Eliminate the risk factors associated with violence
- Deal with the emotional residue that comes with anger, hurt and pain
- Adopt new rules for living.
Outreach and Referral
Our staff complete outreach activities to identify the participating young males. When a young male from has been identified as being involved in risk-taking behaviors (truancy in school, involvement in gangs, involvement with police), he will be referred to our Street Soldiers program.
