Caring Causes: Persevere

 During the summer, statistics show there is a 35% increase in juvenile crimes. This increase can be attributed to several factors including warmer weather, no school, boredom, and the fact that daylight hours are longer.

 

America is currently home to more than 4 million youth aged 16-24 who aren’t in school or working. They are known as Opportunity Youth because of their potential value to our communities and economies. Young black and Latino community members are up to three-to-six more likely to fall in this category than Caucasians. Additionally, youth of color are far more likely to suffer adverse outcomes to poverty and incarceration. Avoiding justice system engagement for Opportunity Youth, particularly those in underserved communities of color, is a crucial step in turning the tide of mass incarceration.

 

Persevere is a non-profit that empowers youth through family programs, wraparound services, and education opportunities, about the free resources and programs that are available to at-risk youth.

I had a chance to interview Brandis Leverette, Program Manager for Persevere.

1. What are some of the contributing factors to the 35% increase in juvenile crimes during the summer?

In my nearly 20 years of experience working closely with young people, I’ve learned there are several factors that contribute to the increase in juvenile crime during the summer. During the warmer months, there are more hours of daylight, which encourage people to spend more time outside. While this can be a good thing for community building, it can also lead to more opportunities for misconduct. Higher temperatures can also play a role in an increase of crimes like burglary and theft, as windows and doors are more likely to be left open. 

In addition to these factors, kids are also often faced with large amounts of unstructured time. For both single and double parent households, it can be difficult or impossible to afford to take time off work or hire a babysitter. Most inner cities have seen decreases in funding for things like free summer programs for decades, and many existing summer programs don’t have attractive options for middle and high school aged students. As a result, children are sometimes left unsupervised and unfulfilled. 

 

2. How does it affect communities to have over 4 million youth aged 16-24 not in school or working?

 

In addition to the possibility of increased crime, youth unemployment can cause dissatisfaction, despondency, and low self-esteem on an individual level. Youth may feel discouraged and lose faith in their talents if they are unable to obtain employment. Youth actively pursuing education or working positively impact the local economy, while non-working youth are not providing that same impact. For many young people who have stopped attending school, if they decide to return to school, they may find it to be too difficult or face a lack of resources to assist them. None of this is meant to overlook personal responsibility, merely to call attention to the barriers that youth may face. 

3. In what ways do youth of color experience adverse outcomes related to poverty and incarceration?

Poverty and incarceration are difficult obstacles to overcome, and youth of color face these obstacles at higher rates. Black and brown youth are more than four times as likely to be detained or committed in juvenile facilities as their white peers, according to nationwide data. Poverty and incarceration can have adverse effects on everything: health, wealth, confidence, and freedom. There are often less opportunities for people of color and we often have to work harder for less than our white counterparts.

4. How does Persevere empower at-risk youth through its family programs, wraparound services, and education opportunities?

Through its Families First program, Persevere is committed to helping youth develop the life skills and tools that will help guide them toward success. We are committed to meeting the youths where they are, and to serve them in their entirety. We offer coding classes, family-friendly events, counseling, career readiness training, and job placement services. Persevere is helping kids and teens explore their interests and potential–in the world of technology and beyond. We give them the space and trust to practice autonomy. Through the mentorship program we hope to help the students and families we serve learn to trust in their abilities as future leaders of their communities. 

 

5. How can people advocate to make such resources available in all communities?

 

To be frank, the availability of resources is tied to funding. Persevere wants to help break the cycle of poverty and incarceration in every state. You can help make that a reality by donating and spreading the word in your community. When you share Perseveres mission, you help us earn both community trust and external funding. In order to break these cycles, we must have the resources to make and keep our promise to empower our youth and their families.