TESTIMONY
Jason Alleyne on Exalt's Comprehensive Programs for Youth in the Criminal Justice System
5:50:06
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3 min
Jason Alleyne outlines Exalt's approach to aiding youth involved in the criminal justice system through education, skill development, and paid internships to prevent recidivism.
- Exalt has helped youth since 2006 by providing classes for skill development, paid internships, and an alumni network to foster personal success.
- The organization caters to 15 to 19-year-olds, many of whom are disengaged from school and face numerous challenges.
- Key program components include pre-internship training with a culturally competent curriculum and placement in paid internships in high-demand fields.
- Exalt boasts significant achievements: a 70% reduction or dismissal of sentences, 95% non-recidivism rate, 98% graduation track by age 20, and total employability enhancement.
- Emphasizes the importance of government partnerships to expand impact and addresses Exalt's strategic goals and funding reliance on the philanthropy sector.
Jason Alleyne
5:50:06
Thank you, Speaker Adams, Chair nurse, and distinguished members of the council for the opportunity to speak here today.
5:50:12
My name is Jason Aileen, and I am the chief program officer at Exalt.
5:50:15
An organization that since 2006 has been dedicated to elevating expectations of personal success for young people who have been involved in the criminal justice system.
5:50:24
Our powerful combination of classes for tangible skill development to navigate the education in criminal justice system placement and paid internships, and an alumni network of resources equipped with the tools to and experiences necessary to avoid recidivism and reinvigorate their lives.
5:50:41
At Exalt, we empower youth to see a future filled with hope and we provide the road map to get there.
5:50:46
Exalt serves criminal justice impacted youth between the ages of fifteen to nineteen.
5:50:50
Many of them come to us chronically disengaged from their respective schools, overage, undercredited, and reading at a 4th grade level.
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All of all participants have 5 staff members working with them throughout their involvement in a cycle.
5:51:02
These staff members include a program coordinator, teacher educational advocate, internship liaison, and alumni liaison.
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Although our program generally requires that our youth be enrolled in school, if they are not, our educational advocate works in collaboration with them to enroll them in a school best designed to support their academic advancement.
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In their first six weeks with us, they are immersed in our pre internship training, which includes our culturally competent, responsive, and academically tested curriculum that rejuvenates their love of learning by focusing on content that is applicable to their lived experiences and curated in a way that is engaging.
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Our pre internship program also provides all of our young people with professional skills trading such as resume building, mock interviewing, and digital literacy.
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With all curriculum as a vehicle, Exalt enhances 4 core skills, communication, resource management, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.
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Upon completion of the pre internship program, all participants are placed in an 8 week paid internship in high demand fields throughout New York City.
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Our core program participants have paid $18 an hour.
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Our list of internship partners includes a vast array of nonprofit business and government entities.
5:52:09
While our students are actively engaged in the educational employment components of our core program, Exalt's court advocacy department supports those that arrive to us with open court cases, navigate the complex landscape of the criminal justice system.
5:52:21
Our advocates build deep partnerships with major stakeholders that comprise the system, including district attorneys, parole officers, and judges.
5:52:28
Exalt has been able to garner remarkable results with the young people that in many ways society at large has failed.
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We are proud to say the 70% of the young people that come to us with open cases have their sentences reduced or dismissed.
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95% do not recidivate 2 years after graduating from our program.
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98% are on track to graduate by age twenty and a 100% of our young people become more employable.
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Currently, Exalt is in the midst of a 3 year strategic plan that focused on increasing capacity, strengthening our alumni program, and establishing an adult learning institute.
5:52:58
Historically, our organization has relied heavily on the philanthropy sector with 90% of our organizational budget coming from foundations.
5:53:05
As we look to deepen the impact of our work, partnership with government, is of the utmost importance to our growth as we look to change the landscape of juvenile justice here in New York City.
5:53:15
We act as you prepare to make budget decisions that best advance your criminal justice goals.
5:53:19
As your support exalt and the work we do to help facilitate the greatness in our young people.
5:53:24
We thank you for your leadership and dedication to addressing how the criminal justice system impacts young New Yorkers.
5:53:29
Thank you for your time today.