Dean Sudha Setty & Associate Dean Degna Levister invite you to the launch of First Impressions Youth Justice Initiative, an innovative pilot program to introduce young people in justice-impacted communities to the court system through civic leadership and community justice.
With leadership from New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey ’12 and in collaboration with the NYS Office of Court Administration, United Neighborhood Houses, Bronx Community College, and Queens College, CUNY Law will is poised to begin the new program. Designed to be a model program replicated across New York State, First Impressions work, will begin with a focus on Bronx County.
First impressions will connect with youth in three distinct ways:
1) law student-run youth summer program at CUNY Law,
2) new College Now courses at Queens College and Bronx Community College,
3) youth curriculum to be developed by community partner the United Neighborhood Houses.
All curricula will be designed to provide middle and high school students with instruction in ways that empower youth and expose them to the fullness of governmental structure, offering civic literacy and opportunities for public participation, while learning the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.