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Jackson
Hero Story
Save Our Youth was started in 2004 after recognizing the criminal justice and court system in the State of Michigan were convicting and sentencing 14- to 16-year-old youth to serve time in adult prison facilities specifically, Jackson Prison, the largest walled prison in the United States; Mr. Burke was a cell block officer at this time and his unit, 2 block, was the unit these youth were sent to do their time. There were two areas save Our Youth's initial mission concentrated on, I- mentoring the youth who were serving time at Jackson Prison and 2- mentoring the youth of incarcerated parents.
What he learned between 2004 and 2006 is that there were a lot of commonalities that contributed to their incarceration; broken homes, gang activity, drug /alcohol abuse, and depression are some of the attributes. After almost two years of Save Our Youth working inside Jackson Prison, it was decided to bring the program to the community. In 2007, Save Our Youth began developing educational programs and projects based on what was needed and not being done in the community in schools, churches, or businesses. At this time Save Our Youth began developing partnerships with the police department, juvenile center, courts, probation department, the prosecutor's office, the public and charter school system, churches, and local businesses.
From 2007 to present, Save Our Youth has developed several projects and programs which all have been researched based on needs assessments, making sure they were not a copy of another program/project. One unique component about Save Our Youth is we do not charge our clients to participate in any of our programs or projects. All our programs and projects have been supported by personal financial contributions made by Mr. Burke and his wife, donations, fundraising and grant funding. Another unique component about Save Our Youth, as founder and Executive Director, Mr. Burke has never received a salary.
The following is a list of some of the Save Our Youth programs and projects developed over the 20 years of our existence: Physical Fitness program (at the YMCA), Art Program, Robotics program, Book building program, Youth summer bowling program, Putt Putt golfing, Camping (YMCA), Health exploration day (Center for Family Health), Youth work program (20 business partnerships that hire the youth in our work program), Detroit Tigers Field trip (annual), Lake Michigan field trip (annual), Music program (school year), Chess club, Land conservation program, Bike Building program, kite building program. In addition, Save Our Youth partners with Family Services and Children's Aid once a month where our youth can attend therapy sessions at no charge.
In 2016, after evaluating all the programs and projects Save Our Youth had developed, it was decided to become a nonprofit mentoring organization. Currently, Save Our Youth has a diverse Board of Directors, staff and volunteers that meet DEI policy and we are focused on equality, equity and have a non-discrimination policy in place.
In addition to successfully running Save our Youth, Mr. Burke has acted as fiduciary for numerous start-up nonprofits over the years. In that role, he also mentored those fledgling Executive Directors to enable them to become successful in their own right.
Jackson
Hero Story
Save Our Youth was started in 2004 after recognizing the criminal justice and court system in the State of Michigan were convicting and sentencing 14- to 16-year-old youth to serve time in adult prison facilities specifically, Jackson Prison, the largest walled prison in the United States; Mr. Burke was a cell block officer at this time and his unit, 2 block, was the unit these youth were sent to do their time. There were two areas save Our Youth's initial mission concentrated on, I- mentoring the youth who were serving time at Jackson Prison and 2- mentoring the youth of incarcerated parents.
What he learned between 2004 and 2006 is that there were a lot of commonalities that contributed to their incarceration; broken homes, gang activity, drug /alcohol abuse, and depression are some of the attributes. After almost two years of Save Our Youth working inside Jackson Prison, it was decided to bring the program to the community. In 2007, Save Our Youth began developing educational programs and projects based on what was needed and not being done in the community in schools, churches, or businesses. At this time Save Our Youth began developing partnerships with the police department, juvenile center, courts, probation department, the prosecutor's office, the public and charter school system, churches, and local businesses.
From 2007 to present, Save Our Youth has developed several projects and programs which all have been researched based on needs assessments, making sure they were not a copy of another program/project. One unique component about Save Our Youth is we do not charge our clients to participate in any of our programs or projects. All our programs and projects have been supported by personal financial contributions made by Mr. Burke and his wife, donations, fundraising and grant funding. Another unique component about Save Our Youth, as founder and Executive Director, Mr. Burke has never received a salary.
The following is a list of some of the Save Our Youth programs and projects developed over the 20 years of our existence: Physical Fitness program (at the YMCA), Art Program, Robotics program, Book building program, Youth summer bowling program, Putt Putt golfing, Camping (YMCA), Health exploration day (Center for Family Health), Youth work program (20 business partnerships that hire the youth in our work program), Detroit Tigers Field trip (annual), Lake Michigan field trip (annual), Music program (school year), Chess club, Land conservation program, Bike Building program, kite building program. In addition, Save Our Youth partners with Family Services and Children's Aid once a month where our youth can attend therapy sessions at no charge.
In 2016, after evaluating all the programs and projects Save Our Youth had developed, it was decided to become a nonprofit mentoring organization. Currently, Save Our Youth has a diverse Board of Directors, staff and volunteers that meet DEI policy and we are focused on equality, equity and have a non-discrimination policy in place.
In addition to successfully running Save our Youth, Mr. Burke has acted as fiduciary for numerous start-up nonprofits over the years. In that role, he also mentored those fledgling Executive Directors to enable them to become successful in their own right.