BOSTON, June 26, 2017— District Attorney Dan Conley today distributed more than $65,000 to non-profits dedicated to keeping Suffolk County youth away from drugs, violence, and negative choices.

During a ceremony held at his downtown office this morning, 11 non-profits received grant funds from Conley’s Asset Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Grant program.  The program draws from cash and assets seized during drug trafficking investigations to support organizations that work with young people across Suffolk County.  This year’s awards totaled $65,150, with individual grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,500.

“These awards represent our ongoing commitment to working with our partners across disciplines to improve the quality of life for young people.  Working together, we can accomplish far more than any one agency can achieve alone,” Conley said.

The grants are provided at no cost to taxpayers: every cent comes from assets seized during the investigation and prosecution of drug distribution cases. State auditors have repeatedly praised the process in Suffolk County and gave it high marks for turning “the profits of crime into something positive for the community” while carefully documenting all forfeiture-related income and expenditures.

This year’s grant awardees are:

• Action for Boston Community Development – Changing Tracks

Founded in 1962, ABCD offers comprehensive services to improve the lives of 100,000 low-income individuals across Greater Boston each year.  Changing Tracks applies an intensive case management model helping court-involved juveniles access gainful employment, education resources, and mentorship services. 

• African Community Economic Development of New England

ACEDONE was founded in 2002 to serve East African refugee and immigrant communities across the Boston area with the goal of helping families achieve self-sufficiency.  The grassroots non-profit offers services including culturally appropriate substance abuse prevention workshops and youth outreach and educational programming.

• Casserly House Since 2000, Casserly House has provided a safe and nurturing environment for low-income children in Roslindale to receive afterschool tutoring, as well as the opportunity to take part in summer educational and enrichment programming.  The organization also assists adults through English language and literacy programs and other services. 

• B-1 Vision B-1 Vision basketball program in an initiative of Christ Ministries in Mattapan.  The non-profit engages at-risk youth in a fun, safe activity, encouraging them to make healthy choices in their lives.

• Dorchester Youth Collaborative For 35 years, DYC has served some of the most at-risk youths in Boston.  In addition to its drop-in youth center, the organization offers substance abuse programs and teaches young people how to cope with violence in positive ways through athletics and education.  

• More than Words More than Words helps court-involved and at-risk youth develop job and life skills by providing the opportunity to help run the non-profit’s retail bookstores, café, and online bookstore.  The organization also provides personal development curriculum, intensive case management services, and support for youth who have completed its program.

• Mothers for Justice and Equality Founded in 2010 by mothers who have lost children to violence, Mothers for Justice and Equality is dedicated to eliminating violence in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and Jamaica Plain.  The organization works to empower mothers and youth to become agents of change in their communities through leadership and job training programs, as well as engagement opportunities to put those skills into action to better Boston’s communities.

• No Books No Ball In addition to engaging at-risk youth in a safe and healthy team activity, the No Books No Ball Basketball Program teaches sportsmanship and civic engagement.  Founded in 1991, the all-volunteer staff provides participants with mentorship and academic encouragement, while also teaching life skills necessary to achieve success on the court, in the classroom, and in their lives.

• They Made it So Can I For the past 11 years, They Made it So Can I has brought speakers of diverse backgrounds and from different professions to speak with fifth grade students in Boston schools.  Through the guest speakers’ stories of overcoming adversity to achieve professional and personal success, the program aims to empower young people to pursue their own dreams. 

• Urban Improv Since 1992, Urban Improv has brought their improvisational workshops to more than 70,000 students across Boston with the goal of empowering them to resolve conflicts and make responsible decisions in challenging situations.  The interactive theatre program gives youth the opportunity to act out their responses to situations young people face in real life, helping them gain the social emotional skills to handle difficult encounters and to understand the consequences of their decisions.

• Zumix Founded in 1991 in response to an increase in youth violence in East Boston, Zumix offers after school and summer arts enrichment programs to youth from East Boston, as well as other city neighborhoods, Revere, and Chelsea.  The non-profit provides young people with a safe space to develop skills to succeed in the fields of music production, audio engineering, broadcasting, songwriting, and performing. 

Conley has delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars to non-profits and youth service providers since taking office. Application forms available at http://www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com/partnerships-and-prevention/asset-forfeiture-reinvestment-program/, and all who work to keep the youth of Suffolk County safe and healthy are welcome to apply.

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