After School Programs In Oakland Ca' title='After School Programs In Oakland Ca' />Restorative Justice Programs Take Root in SchoolsA lot of these young people dont have adults to cry to, said Be Naiah Williams, an after school coordinator at Bunche whose 2. So whatever emotion they feel, they go do. Oakland expanded the program after an initial success six years ago. Since then, the need for an alternative discipline has become more urgent Last year, the district faced a Department of Education civil rights investigation into high suspension and expulsion rates, particularly among African American boys. A report by the Urban Strategies Council, a research and policy organization in Oakland, showed that African American boys made up 1. Many disciplinary actions were for defiance nonviolent infractions like texting in class or using profanity with a teacher. A body of research indicates that lost class time due to suspension and expulsion results in alienation and often early involvement with the juvenile justice system, said Nancy Riestenberg, of the Minnesota Department of Education, an early adopter of restorative justice. Being on high alert for violence is not conducive to learning, she added. Gardena Adult School Courses and Programs. Gardena, CA, residents can find education courses and programs at adult schools located in the city. These schools provide. Attorney Bob Crabtree describes legal requirements foraccommodations in afterschool programs under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, includes strategies parents. Demi Lovato M4a Download more. Many studies have concluded that zero tolerance policies do not make schools safer. Were a terribly violent community, said Junious Williams, the chief executive of the Urban Strategies Council. We have not done very much around teaching kids alternatives to conflict that escalates into violence. Among the lost youngsters was Damon Smith, now an A student at Bunche, who said he had been suspended more than 1. You start thinking its cool, he said. You think youre going to come back to school and catch up, but unless youre a genius you wont. Jay Z 9Th Wonder Black Is Back. It made me want to mess up even more. Damon, 1. Find colleges and universities in California CA offering nationally accredited Master of Science in Nursing MSN degree programs. Signup to get information about upcoming events and new programs at the YWCA BerkeleyOaklandThe California Afterschool Network provides the resources and tools necessary to build high quality outofschool time programs in California. Programs In Your Neighborhood Information for parents and youths about programs in your neighborhood. I didnt know how to express emotions with my mouth. I knew how to hit people, he said. I feel I can go to someone now. Eight of Oaklands participating schools have full time coordinators like Mr. Butler, whose work is financed by the nonprofit Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth. Add Raid Drivers To Windows 7'>Add Raid Drivers To Windows 7. He is often called on to handle delicate situations 9. Bunche have had run ins with the juvenile system or lived in foster homes. Photo. Jameelah Garry, 1. Mr. Butler about the shooting death of her 1. Charles. Credit. Jim WilsonThe New York Times In one circle, students discussed racism. In another, a girl confided that she had been molested as a child. Those boys who looked scary wrapped their arms around this girl, Mr. Butler said. Thats whats missing for our kids. Its harder to fight people you feel a closeness to. Recently, it appeared that jealousy had triggered a fight between two classmates. Ebony Monroe, a new student, was wearing short shorts. Jameelah Garry, who recently had a baby, was wearing a baggy flannel shirt. Jameelah slugged her. I dont like her, she explained. If your kid was in this situation, what advice would you give her Mr. Butler asked gently. Jameelah went silent, then said, I got an anger problem, Ill be honest with you. She started to cry, tears welling up on glue on eyelashes. I lost my brother last year, she said. Charles. He was shot in the head after an altercation in East Oakland. She took off a sleeve to reveal a teal tattoo in his memory. No one at the school had known. Betsye Steele, the principal, said that without the circle, and the trust it developed, the major source of Jameelahs bad behavior would not have been discovered and might have escalated. Since the program started, the school reduced its overall suspension rate to 8 percent in 2. But restorative justice is not a quick fix, teachers union officials and legal experts warn. Youre changing a culture that has been in place for a long time, said Mary Louise Frampton, an adjunct law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Its a multiyear process. It is also not a treatment for mental illness or ideal for situations with major power imbalances, like bullying, said Barbara Mc. Clung, the districts coordinator for behavior health initiatives. Not every student will acknowledge they caused harm, she added. Approaches to restorative justice vary nationwide. Some districts allow suspensions and expulsions but now require stricter justification. Others, under pressure to reduce suspensions, put students on administrative leave instead. Some schools focus on formal mediation and reparation while others, like Bunche, are more spontaneous. A recent circle at Bunche for Jeffrey, who was on the verge of expulsion for habitual vandalism, included an Oakland police officer, and the conversation turned to the probability that Jeffrey would wind up incarcerated or on the streets. The student had told Mr. Butler that he was being pressured to join a gang. Cat, you got five people right now invested in your well being, Mr. Butler told him. This is a matter of life or death. Jeffrey agreed to go to Mr. Butlers classroom every day at third period to do his schoolwork. Mr. Butler, who grew up in a vast segregated housing project in New Orleans, knows the urge for retribution Two years ago, his sister was murdered by her boyfriend. I wanted my quart of blood, he told students disturbed by Kiante Campbells death. Then the boyfriends mother showed up, seeking forgiveness. This brave little woman knocked on the door in her robe and flip flops, he told his classroom. The want for revenge in my stomach lifted. Keeping students in school, focused on the future, is at the core of his work. So every Friday afternoon he tells them Yall gotta come back Monday. Come back. I gotta see you. Were all weve got, he said. And we need to start thinking that way. Continue reading the main story. The Youth Employment Partnership Oakland, CAOur mission is to enhance the employment and educational opportunities of Oakland youth and young adults impacted by poverty, the foster care and criminal justice systems, school underachievement, and lack of work experience by providing job training, job placement, hands on education, and comprehensive support services. We strive to create meaningful work opportunities by partnering with local businesses and operating our own social enterprisestwo cafes, Training Grounds at the Oakland Airport, and Fresh Start at the Juvenile Justice Center in San Leandro. Our youth and young adults play a key role in the operations of these cafes, putting their skills to work in the service industry, increasing communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution capabilitiesall while growing their knowledge of how a successful business operates.