DA Conley (center right) stands with Codman Academy students on March 15 after delivering a check for $5,000 in seized money to help fund a group counseling program to address substance abuse, gangs, and other issues facing city teens.
Conley presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to each of the following organizations: Teen Empowerment, Children’s Services of Roxbury, Dorchester Youth Collaborative, and Codman Academy.
On March 1, Conley visited Teen Empowerment’s headquarters in Roxbury to spend time with the agency’s young members and staff. The funds provided by Conley’s office will be used to support a youth organizing initiative in the Warren Gardens neighborhood of Roxbury allowing the group to hold a peer-led series of anti-violence and substance abuse discussions.
“It’s a rewarding experience to visit youth groups like these where kids and teens are receiving positive feedback and mentorship from the dedicated staff of these non-profit organizations,” Conley said. “Prevention and education are the best ways to combat violence and substance abuse, and it’s important to support organizations that work to help keep Boston youths on the right track.”
On March 8, Conley visited Dorchester Youth Collaborative, which works with some of the most at-risk youths in Boston. The non-profit offers substance abuse programs and teaches young people how to cope with violence in a positive way through athletics and education. DYC plans to use the funds from Conley’s office to help enhance their substance abuse and gang prevention programs, and expand their GED program for youths aged 16 to 19.
Last week, Conley spent time with the youths and staff of Children’s Services of Roxbury, which provides substance abuse, mental health, and early education programs to youths from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The program intends to use the funds for their Youth and Police Partnerships Program, which provides mentorships support for at-risk youth. He also visited Codman Academy which will use the grant money to fund their Student Support Services Program, specifically a group-counseling program that will discuss cyberbullying, substance abuse issues, gangs and other issues.
DA Conley (center left) joins Dorchester Youth Collaborative Executive Director Emmett Folgert (right, in blue shirt) and area youth on March 8. Conley delivered a check for $5,000 in seized drug money in part to help fund a GED program for older teens.
These grants represent a percentage of money and property seized from drug dealers who have been prosecuted by the district attorney’s office and convicted. State law allows up to 10 percent of money from the auctions of dealers’ property and confiscated funds to be returned to the community.
This year’s awards – totaling $75,000 – is over four times more than those distributed in the first round of reinvestments grants 20 years ago, when the awards totaled $17,500.
The annual grant process begins in the summer, with application forms available on the Suffolk DA’s website. Awards are typically distributed in the winter.
