Dear Alumni,
New Bedford Youth Court has been able to provide high school volunteer attorneys, including some of us, with over $59,000 in scholarships over the past eight years to further their educational goals. This past year P.A.A.C.A. has expanded to launch Fall River Youth Court and 11 new volunteers were awarded scholarship dollars at their 1st Recognition Ceremony. After our 8th New Bedford Youth Court Recognition Ceremony we are sad to say that the prospect of continuing the scholarship awards is looking grim. The scholarship fund has been depleted as a result of cutbacks in funding and a lack of new grant opportunities.
As former volunteers and recipients of this scholarship we know how vital this scholarship program can be. You and I have personally seen respondents come into the courtroom on the night of their hearing with assault and battery charges, a bad attitude, and completely distressed parents in the worst situation possible. After completing their sanctions, we have seen these same respondents not only atone for their crimes, but become deeply involved and caring about the community they live in and the people they interact with on a daily basis. The change in the respondents’ attitudes was enough for us
to give up our Tuesday evenings to make a difference.
On a more personal level, we have all been affected positively in some way thanks to our experience in youth court. So many of us started out our first nights thinking, “I’ll never be able to get up in front of an entire jury and plead my case”. Yet by the end of training, and after a lot of case preparation, we did just that, and we did it well. So many of us just wanted to make a change in a young person’s life, and we did that each and every time we came to a hearing night. We came from different schools, different backgrounds, but by the end of it we shared the common goals, fond memories,
and made friends that would last a lifetime. Many went on to college to pursue degrees such as law, medicine, art, and much more. As one of the first Alumni of Youth Court I can say that I shared those same experiences with many of you and then chose to move away in hopes of making a difference elsewhere. But I returned because in my travels I found that there is no other program that provides the hands on experience that this one does. No other program affects the lives of both respondents as well as those who give time to volunteer. I fully support this program and I know that you do too, it is time that we showed how much we truly support its mission and hope to see it grow. The money you donate will continue the scholarship program and encourage the new generation of young people to volunteer in the very same way we did, to carry on a tradition, and to live up to the legacies we left behind.
We recognize these tough times affect everyone, but as Youth Court Alumni it should be not only our duty but our responsibility to see that the graduating youth are able to utilize this special scholarship the same way that we did. Since its inception in 2002 Youth Court has trained 275 volunteers. If 275 Alumni donated even $10 every year we would be raising almost $3,000; almost an entire scholarship fund. I know that it was a good feeling to help make a difference back then, now we have a chance to make a difference once again.. Please join me in making these contributions to help young volunteers the way Youth Court helped us and to continue this valued tradition. 100% of your donation will be used for scholarships and your contribution is tax deductible.
Sincerely,
Nina M. Sousa
Youth Court Alumni
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