The
Lineage Project teaches at-risk and incarcerated New York
City teenagers awareness-based practices, such as yoga and
meditation, to help consciously manage stress, increase self-awareness,
and cultivate compassion and commitment to nonviolent engagement
with their communities.
Over the past 10 years, we have held programs for youth in collaboration with many facilities including the Department of Correction's Adolescent Detention Center at Rikers Island, The Jewish Board of Children and Family Services, New York City Department of Juvenile Justice, and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Although no longer working at Rikers and The Jewish Board of Children and Family Services we have recently added two new service sites, the Fortune Society and the Brooklyn Job Corps.
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services
The Brooklyn Residential Center is a non-secure, group home,
residential program operated by the New York State Office
of Children and Family Services. The program serves female
adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 ½ years who
have failed to transition to the community following discharge
from OCFS. As result of the failure to return to the community,
the youth’s aftercare/parole status is revoked and they
are returned to residential placement.
While in detention, residents receive an array of services,
such as education, health services, recreation, and case management
The Lineage Project has been providing classes at the BRC
since February of 2005. Click here to see a letter of support
from Dr. Rafindadi, BRC Psychologist.
The New York City Department of Juvenile Justice
The
New York City Department of Juvenile Justice's (DJJ) mission
is to provide Non-Secure and Secure Detention for alleged
Juvenile Delinquents and Secure Detention for alleged Juvenile
Offenders whose cases are pending, along with post-adjudicated
juveniles awaiting transfer to state facilities.
The DJJ detains youth in structured and secure settings. While
in detention, residents receive an array of services, such
as education, health services, recreation, and case management.
The Lineage Project has been providing classes at the Horizons
Secure Detention Facility since 2000.
For the past 2 years, we have been invited to participate
in the DJJ's summer leadership academy. Youth who are deemed to
be leaders in their sections are chose to participate in this
5 week program, designed to promote their leadership abilities.
The Lineage Project provides classes twice each week and our
involvement is testament to the value the Department of Juvenile
Justice places on the work we do with the youth.
The Fortune Society
The non-profit organization, Fortune Society, whose mission is to support successful re-entry from prison and promote alternatives to incarceration, is one of the original leaders in working with inmates in New York City . In partnering with Fortune, we have added to our scope by working with youth in their Alternative to Incarceration Program. Because these participants are carrying out their sentences via this program, they tend to be more long-term, which allows a continuity of work with the same participants for Lineage teachers. It also potentially provides a stable setting for evaluation of our impact on the youth.
The Brooklyn Job Corps
Established in 1964, Job Corps is the nations' largest and most successful residential and educational training program for economically disadvantaged youth, ages 16 to 24. Job Corps has assisted more than 2 million young people with the integrated academic, vocational and social skills training needed to get started in a new career. Job Corps is funded by Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and has 118 centers located in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
