TEEN COURT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEARAvery Morrison was selected as the 2015 Teen Court Volunteer of the Year for his dedication to the program over the last year. Avery was consistently present at the Teen Court sessions and took a leadership role in corresponding with fellow attorneys. Often he assisted the Teen Court Coordinator with set-up for Teen Court and stayed to help with clean-up afterwards. Avery was recognized for going above and beyond his volunteer role on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at the Teen Court Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

Many may think that there is nothing unique about this story but what’s so great about it is that Avery was once a participant in a Volunteers for Youth Justice Diversion Program (Bossier Power of Choice). He decided to make some changes in his life and began volunteering with Teen Court where

he forged a special bond with Kayla Anderson, Teen Court Coordinator, whom he credits for helping him make better choices. Avery graduated from Haughton High School on Saturday, May 16th and plans to attend Tulane University in New Orleans in the fall and major in biology. His future goal is to become an anesthesiologist.

2015 Volunteer Appreciation Event

On April 21st we celebrated our 2015 Volunteer Appreciation Event. Our volunteers are the heart of our organization, without their continued dedication and support we would not be able to “make a difference” in the lives of so many children, youth and

families in the 6 parishes in which we serve. During 2014 we had over 200 volunteers that gave of their time, gifts and talents to serve our at risk families in Northwest Louisiana. This year we recognized several of our outstanding volunteers:

Youth Programs Community Presenter of the Year Javon Tyler

VYJ Volunteer of the Year Donna Seal

CASA Volunteer of the Year Judith Vestal

Youth Programs Volunteer of the Year Guy Cooke

HEADS UP FROM THE EDOver the last couple of months, I have had the opportunity to be involved with so many people in the community who truly support the mission of Volunteers for Youth Justice. It began with Gumbo Gladiators where over 30 gumbo teams and 40 vendors participated to support VYJ in the pouring rain. Then we were fortunate enough to have 172 donors who supported VYJ during the Give for Good event.

Without all of the support of our community, VYJ would not be able to offer the needed services to children, youth, and families in crisis. Because of this involvement, we have been able to expand our community based programs into the Caddo Parish school system offering mentoring, prevention, and leadership programs to students at several local schools. The schools where our programs have been implemented have reported increased results in the self-esteem and social functioning of the students. Thanks to the support of our community, VYJ hopes to be able to expand these services to several other schools in our area in the upcoming year.

Give for Good DayOn April 5th area non-profits celebrated the 2nd annual Give for Good Day. It was a great success, thanks to everyone that donated at Carrabba’s (our local supporter and designated donation location) and online to Volunteers for Youth Justice. As a direct result of your participation, we raised $8,452 from 172 donors. We also celebrated a $1,000 win with the Golden Ticket and Evening Rush Hour Award from the Community Foundation Lagniappe Fund.

We would also like to thank Bayou Bounce for donating the bounce house for our event.

Volunteers for Youth Justice (VYJ) is a volunteer-based, community supported non-profit organization whose

mission is to provide a community caring for children,

youth and families in crisis.

Board of Directors President

Kathy Mitton

Vice PresidentClifton Tate

Secretary Betty Henderson

Treasurer Weston Moreau, III

Board Members Gary Bazer

Sarah Garrett Madeline Haynie

Laurie Lyons Laure McGehee Wilbert Pryor

Herschel Richard Chris Ricord

Lizbeth Rosado Wilna Sepulvado

Erica Deshon Thomas Angie White

Jeffery L. Williams, Sr.

Executive Director Kelli Todd

Community Sponsors

PAGE 2 June 2015

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

GEMS “BE-YOU-TIFUL” FASHION SHOWThe GEMS Mentoring Program hosted the Be-YOU-tiful Fashion Show on May 2, 2015 at the Word of Life Youth Center in Shreveport. The purpose of the show was to boost the self-esteem and confidence of the girls in our program and to encourage them to be their best selves. A total of ten girls beautifully modeled their Be-YOU-tiful t-shirts, casual wear, and formal wear. The girls also modeled specially-made backpacks which were created by local entrepreneur, 10 year old Brielle Hobley, who has a company called Bragz.

Katrina Thomas of Make Me, Mold Me Empowerment, Inc. delivered an empowering message to the girls what will resonate with them for many years to come. We are grateful for all of the community volunteers, donors, staff, board members, and business owners for assisting with this event. Special thanks go out to Word of Life Center staff for use of their Youth Worship Center for the event.

Fair Park Leadership Academy Has an Active Spring SemesterThe Fair Park Leadership Academy (FPLA), created in partnership with Volunteers for Youth Justice’s GEMS & GENTS Mentoring Program, has had an active spring, receiving leadership training from local leaders, participating in community service activities, and participating in a Business and Etiquette Training & Luncheon at the Petroleum Club in Downtown Shreveport. Three of the girls in the academy also participated in the GEMS Be-YOU-tiful Fashion Show. The Academy held its closing program on May 15, 2015. Parents and community leaders were invited to share in the culmination of four months of activity. Marvin “Jabber Jaws” Williams was the keynote speaker and encouraged the students to have faith and determination to achieve success.

Students shared personal reflections on what they have learned from the academy and also shared their upcoming summer projects that will benefit the school. One group of students will complete a beautification project by planting flowers in front of the school and the other group will work to spruce up the gymnasium’s foyer with paint and will add other special touches such as a slogan above the trophy case. The students will participate in a Summer Leadership Training to assist them in honing their leadership skills for the upcoming school year.

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

Battle of the Gumbo Gladiators 2015 Thanks to all our sponsors, cooking teams and participants that came out on a rainy day to enjoy some great gumbos, lots of Louisiana fun and support VYJ!

2015 Winners

People’s Choice: Mr. Thrifty

Best Team Spirit: DaBayou Cajun Seasoning

Best Booth Decorations: Firehouse Gumbo

SPONSORS

Champion Sponsors – The Shreveport Times; Thrifty Liquor; Amerigroup

Gold Sponsor – W. Ross Foote, The Patterson Resolution Group

Silver Sponsors – AEP Swepco; Bruce and Betty Henderson; Carter Federal Credit Union; Glazer’s; Hebert’s Town & Country Chrysler; Vintage Realty Company

Hospitality Tent Sponsor – Blanchard Walker

Koozie Sponsor – United Heathcare

Bronze Sponsors – All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church; Business First; Cook, Yancey; Home Federal Bank; Remington College; Seagull Operating Co.; Wilna & Joe Sepulvado

Wooden Spoon Sponsors – Nix Sheet Metal, Inc.; Sarah & Chris Garrett

Mark your calendar for the 4th Annual Gumbo Gladiators on March 19, 2016!

Non-Seafood:

1st – Roux the Day

2nd – Cooking Cousins

3rd – Krewe of Roux

Seafood:

1st – The White’s

2nd – Roux Creux

3rd – Firehouse Gumbo

Mail to:Volunteers for Youth Justice 900 Jordan St., Ste. 102Shreveport, LA 71101

Please return this form with your donation. Your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law, and you will receive a receipt. Thank You!

Yes, I want to help give hope!Amount: $25 $50 $100 Other

Please bill my credit card: Visa MC DiscoverAcct#: Exp: CVC#: Name as it appears on card:

Return Address:

PAGE 4 June 2015

ABOUT VOLUNTEERS FOR YOUTH JUSTICE (VYJ)

VYJ was established in 1981 by members of First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport, with the mission of providing a community caring for children, youth and families in crisis. VYJ has been leading the way in providing dynamic, life-changing program for abused neglected and at-risk children in Northwest Louisiana for over 30 years.

OUR PROGRAMS

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

The VYJ CASA Program relies on community volunteers to provide advocacy for child victims of abuse or neglect and who are involved in the juvenile court system through no fault of their own. Specially trained volunteers serve as officers of the court and “friends” to children in need. These volunteer advocates are assigned by judges to speak on behalf of children who have been placed in foster care due to abuse or neglect. Their primary objective is to ensure that each child is placed in a safe, permanent home.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

JumpStart (Power of Choice, Stamp Out Shoplifting, Family Strengthening) – A diversion program providing educational workshops in a support group setting with volunteer facilitators trained to address the needs of at-risk youth.

Teen Court – A program designed to offer non-violent, first-time juvenile offenders the opportunity to be judged by a jury of their peers, accept responsibility for their actions, and make restitution for their offenses.

GEM & GENTS – Mentoring program for 13–16 year old youth, which “pairs” them up with adult mentors who assist with their educational, relational, and emotional development.

Conflict Resolution – A collaborative effort between VYJ and the Caddo Parish School System, designed to address the dynamics that lead to violent behavior, with the goal of preventing school fight violations.

Fact of Life Program – A character development curriculum. This program is designed to provide adjudicated juvenile offenders, ages 12 – 16, with a method of improved decision making. This program show participants what is required for a rewarding quality of life and at the same time providing participants with a set of guideline for making choices by which a good life can be obtained and maintained.

COURT PROGRAMS

FINS (Families in Need of Services) – Program for families on the verge of crisis due to the ungovernable behavior of a child. The primary goal of FINS is to secure appropriate services to remedy the family’s dysfunction.

Truancy FINS – Specialized FINS officers work with the Caddo Parish School System, children, and their families, to identify the root cause of excessive unexcused absences and secure appropriate services to remedy the cause.

900 Jordan St.

Shreveport, LA 71101

(318) 221-2272

www.vyjla.org

“L ght of Hope” Child Abuse Awareness Event April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. On April 7th, CASA and Volunteers for Youth Justice honored the children in Louisiana with a “Light of Hope” Ceremony. Held on the steps of our Caddo Juvenile Courthouse, local city officials, judicial dignitaries, CASA and area residents joined to recognize the children in our area who are being served by a CASA along with the 28 children in Louisiana who lost their lives due to child abuse last year. “Light of Hope” is a national movement to raise awareness of abused and neglected children.

CASAs are trained volunteers appointed by a judge to advocate for the needs of children who have been removed from their home and placed in foster care due to abuse and neglect. In 2014, CASA staff and volunteers served as the “voice for a child” in the court system for 565 children and their families in six parishes throughout northwest Louisiana. Our CASA program remains in constant need of additional volunteers to advocate for the growing number of children who are added to the CASA waiting list on a daily bases. As 2014 ended, there were 93 children waiting for a CASA volunteer to advocate for them through this difficult time.

By volunteering, you can make a difference in the life of a child!