Enrichment 2 Empowerment Free After-school Program Enrolling Young People Ages 11 to 18
NEW ORLEANS, LA, August 8, 2022 – A new after-school program in New Orleans is providing academic, recreational, emotional, and political empowerment to create personal and community change. The Enrichment 2 Empowerment (E2E) Program for New Orleans youth ages 11 to 18 is free and enrolling for the fall school semester.
E2E is a partnership between youth-serving community organizations Brothers at Peace and Parenting from Prison and the Center for Youth Equity (CYE) in the Violence Prevention Institute (VPI) of Tulane University. The collaboration is the result of funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a youth violence prevention research and practice hub in the Gulf South.
“Young people deserve to have their voices heard in the conversations around their lives and their futures,” said Ronald Scott, Brothers at Peace founder and executive director. “They, especially Black and African American teens, should have the opportunity to change and gain control of their own narrative.”
Using an anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens, the program acknowledges that structural racism and the economic and health disparities it creates are the root causes of violence. It endeavors to move beyond enrichment activities to educate young people about systemic barriers and how advocacy for policy change can lead to equity.
“Many youth violence prevention interventions have focused on individual, family, and community level solutions, meaning they’ve promoted behavior change and peer norms, strengthened family communication, or improved physical and social environments,” said Dr. Samantha Francois, CYE co-director, VPI executive director, and assistant professor at the Tulane University School of Social Work. “Few, however, specifically address reducing youth exposure to violence through structural change to the health, economic, educational, and social policies that maintain inequalities. Young people can and should have a role in that advocacy.”
In both weekly and monthly sessions, E2E participants will enjoy creative activities, receive healthy snacks, access tutoring and homework help, and have thoughtful conversations to build friendship and community. “Young people have the capacity to connect in powerful ways,” said Dominque Jones-Johnson, founder and executive director of Parenting from Prison. “We hope to nurture their individual and collective strength through this empowerment program so they can implement change for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Beginning in September, the program will meet:
- From 4:00 to 5:45 pm every Monday and Wednesday
- From 10:00 to 11:45 am on one Saturday a month
Registration is open through August 31 for the first cohort of E2E participants, and availability is on a first-come basis. More information and registration are available here.
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About Center for Youth Equity: The Center for Youth Equity is part of the Violence Prevention Institute at Tulane University, and it receives funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the only youth violence prevention center of excellence in the Gulf South. Along with community partners and young people, the CYE looks for ways to prevent youth from being exposed to violence and shares what works with hospitals, schools, organizations, associations, lawmakers, and anyone interested.
About Brothers at Peace: Brothers At Peace helps youth build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. It is a haven filled with love, hope, and opportunity. They provide ongoing relationships with caring adults, life-enhancing programs for young people, and effective educational programs for kids and young adults to promote character building.
About Parenting from Prison: Parenting from Prison provides cultural competency training on the impact of mass incarceration on young Black girls and the challenges they face growing up with a parent in prison. It is an initiative that works to educate stakeholders, teachers, prisons, and any institutions that provide services to children directly impacted by incarceration with essential tools to promote effective change.
Press Contact:
Carrie Moulder, Communications Manager, Center for Youth Equity
cmoulder@tulane.edu
