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Story: Omar Johnson (named changed for privacy), a 16 year-old African American male respondent, was diverted to the Time Dollar Youth Court from the Metropolitan Police Department for disorderly conduct and gambling at the Metro.
After his intake with the Youth Court staff and his hearing at the University of the District of Columbia, Omar was sentenced to provide 25 hours of community service, to serve 8 times on the Youth Court Jury, and to participate in 8 sessions of Life Skills, a science-based model that uses curricula that focuses on preventive interventions.
Respondents are given 90 days to complete their sentences, yet after two and a half months, Omar had completed only 2 sessions of jury duty and Life Skills and 8 hours of community service. Omar’s mother expressed her strong interest in keeping Omar in the program because, despite his spotty attendance, she saw the positive effects it was having on him.
Impressed by the commitment of the Youth Court staff and the resources available to the respondents and their parents, Ms. Johnson became involved by helping out at the Saturday hearings as the front desk attendance monitor and assisting during the holiday luncheon.
After a sentence extension, Omar completed his remaining community service hours at the D.C. Central Kitchen assisting with meal preparation at the site. Although it was part of his required sentence, Omar enjoyed his time as a juror, and he would like to continue as a juror, but this time as a volunteer!
Omar has been accepted and received full scholarships to attend Princeton University, Hampton University, Salisbury College and Rutgers University. He plans to attend the University of Maryland, College Park for the summer semester and then transfer to Princeton University where he hopes to earn a dual degree in Criminal Law and Electrical Engineering.
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Community Building, Social Justice & Complementary Currencies
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NEF is an independent 'think and do' tank. We believe in economics as if people and the planet mattered.
CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy)
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national non-profit that works to improve the lives of low-income people. CLASP’s mission is to improve the economic security, educational and workforce prospects, and family stability of low-income parents, children, and youth and to secure equal justice for all.
The Asset Based Community Development Institute
The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) is co-directed by John L. McKnight, director of community studies at IPR, and his long-time collaborator in community research, John P. Kretzmann, an IPR senior research associate. Challenging the traditional approach to solving urban problems, which focuses service providers and funding agencies on the needs and deficiencies of neighborhoods, Kretzmann and McKnight have demonstrated that community assets are key building blocks in sustainable urban and rural community revitalization efforts.
Center for Study of Responsive Law (CSRL)
The Center for Study of Responsive Law is a nonprofit Ralph Nader organization that supports and conducts a wide variety of research and educational projects to encourage the political, economic and social institutions of this country to be more aware of the needs of the citizen-consumer. The Center publishes a variety of reports on a number of public interest issues.
Family Resource Coalition of America (FRCA)
For 21 years, Family Support America has been the nation’s catalyst, clearinghouse, and thought leader in family support, based on a bedrock belief: If you want to help families, ask parents what they want.
Everyone agrees that families are the foundation of society: When families are strong, communities thrive, and children are safer and happier. What sets Family Support America apart is our conviction that if you want strong families, you have to create a world where all parents are engaged in solutions for themselves, their children, their communities, and society as a whole—where they receive the support every family needs, and are partners in planning and providing that support.
Founded in 1982 by Ralph Nader, Essential Information is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. We are involved in a variety of projects to encourage citizens to become active and engaged in their communities. We provide provocative information to the public on important topics neglected by the mass media and policy makers.
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
Building knowledge to improve education and social policy. MDRC is a non-profit, non-partisan education and social policy research organization dedicated to learning what works to improve programs and policies that affect the poor.
Helping low-income people, especially people of color, build powerful, effective organizations through which they can change their communities and public policies for the better.
Transaction Net: Complementary Community Currency Systems
Models of and resources for complementary community currency systems and local exchange networks.
Founded in 1980 by Robert Swann; named after the author of Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered. Dedicated to the premise that "both social and environmental sustainability can be achieved by applying the values of human-scale communities and respect for the natural environment to economic issues. Building on a rich tradition often known as decentralism, the Society initiates practical measures that lead to community revitalization and further the transition toward an economically and ecologically sustainable society."