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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Yarelis Leonardo, Manager of Reentry Services at Getting Out Staying Out
4:19:52
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159 sec
Yarelis Leonardo, representing Getting Out Staying Out (GOESO), testified about their reentry and anti-violence programs serving young people affected by the criminal justice system. She highlighted GOESO's success in reducing gun violence and recidivism rates, while emphasizing the need for continued city funding due to recent federal grant cuts.
- GOESO has served over 15,000 people in two decades, focusing on 16-24 year olds in various situations related to incarceration and criminal justice.
- The organization has expanded its services to include mental health care, literacy, and STEM programs, with 93% of community program participants not returning to jail.
- Recent cuts in federal funding, including a rescinded $250,000 DOJ grant, have increased GOESO's reliance on city funding to maintain their critical anti-violence and community programs.
Yarelis Leonardo
4:19:52
Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
4:19:55
My name is Yarelas Leonardo, manager of reentry services at Getting Out Staying Out, a reentry and anti violence program that has served more than 15,000 people over two decades.
4:20:07
At GOESO, we work directly with 16 20 four year old young people who are incarcerated in Rikers Island, juvenile facilities, people in the community who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system, and those who are at risk.
4:20:21
I focus on developing strategies that empower them to reintegrate successfully, overcome barriers, and ultimately build a future free of incarceration.
4:20:31
And that's why everyone at GOESO is very grateful for the city council and the city support that allows us to do critical anti violence work for participants citywide.
4:20:42
Go Social Care violence intervention, community based education, mental health, job readiness, and paid internship programs have reduced violence and led to better outcomes for the people we serve.
4:20:54
While gun violence is still a serious problem in our community, we are proud to say that the area in East Harlem that we serve has seen gun violence drop to the lowest level since 2019.
4:21:06
In GOESL's community program, ninety three percent of the young people we serve do not return to jail.
4:21:14
GOESO responded to increased needs from court involved and formerly incarcerated youth for treatment of anxiety, depression, and p s PTSD by opening an in house mental health clinic in partnership with the child center that provides robust services including psychiatric care.
4:21:32
We created new literacy and STEM programs, and a third of our STEM participants will start college this year.
4:21:39
We rely on city and state federal funding as well as foundation and private grants, and we and we're able to expand programming in part because of a federal Department of Justice community violence intervention and prevention initiative multi year grant in 2022.
4:21:57
However, this April, we unfortunately received news that our ongoing grant for the DOJ has been rescinded, and we lost almost 250,000 that has already been budgeted for this fiscal year.
4:22:09
Anti violence and core community program.
4:22:11
We are not the only organization impacted by DOJ cut.
4:22:15
Anti violence program around our city lost millions of dollars in funding.
4:22:20
While we ensure that our program continues, they will be impacted and will need to rely on city funding more than ever to ensure that all participants who need services can get them.
4:22:30
Thank you.