Reclaiming Youth Opportunity

Reclaiming Youth Opportunity

Teens and young adults with limited education and work experience can lead them toward to unhealthy behaviors resulting in depression, anxiety and isolation.

Digital Extra 1:The Old Prison that Gives Positive Opportunity to Youth

The GrowingChange organization, in Scotland County, North Carolina, manages a former state prison site and has “flipped” it into a place for at-risk youth to receive positive reinforcement and the support they need as they face adulthood and the growing importance of making good decisions. This ncIMPACT story is made possible by support from Civic Federal Credit Union.

Digital Extra 2:NC Teens Change Course Thanks to New Program in Old Prison

https://video.unctv.org/video/nc-teens-change-course-thanks-new-program-old-prison-45ok7i/

A former state prison, once closed and decaying, is now helping Scotland County, NC teenagers change their life trajectory towards success over struggle. We examine “GrowingChange,” the program that hopes to give “at-risk” youth the support they need at a crucial age. ncIMPACT is made possible by the support of Civic Federal Credit Union.

Opportunities for Disconnected Youth: For More Information

• The Challenge – What is the problem communities are facing?
  • Youth Disconnection—Opportunity Nation
  • Disconnected Youth in the Research Triangle Region: An Ominous Problem Hidden in Plain Sight—MDC, Inc. Report to NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation
  • Who are Opportunity Youth?—Aspen Institute for Community Solutions
  • Why Opportunity Youth?—UPenn Center for High Impact Philanthropy
  • Youth Disconnection by County—Measure of America
  • Laurinburg, NC crime rate
  • America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation: Data on North Carolina
• The Solution – What is the innovative solution we want to highlight?
  • Growing Change
    • A Prison Sits Empty. A Nonprofit Moves In—Nation Swell
    • Noran Sanford turns youthful lives around on old prison grounds—News & Observer
  • Telling Their Stories: Communities Share Strategies to Support Opportunity Youth— Aspen Institute for Community Solutions
• The Players – Who did what to make the innovative solution work in the community?
  • He’s Flipping A Prison into A Farm: Meet Noran Sanford—WUNC
  • MIT Students Team with Nonprofit to Flip a Prison into an Agricultural Community Center—Arch Daily
• The Promise – Why do we think this solution holds promise for other communities? What stakeholders must come together to respond? What else has to happen?
  • Promoting a New Direction for Youth Justice Strategies to Fund a Community-Based Continuum of Care and Opportunity—Urban Institute
  • Transforming Closed Youth Prisons Repurposing Facilities to Meet Community Needs—Urban Institute
  • Repurposing: New Beginnings for Closed Prisons—The Sentencing Project
  • Haywood Pathways Center—Example of a correctional facility being turned into a homeless center and transitional housing
  • Men and Women United for Youth and Families

New Hanover County Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence