In 2007, The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Communities Empowering Youth Initiative, awarded funds to build the organizational capacity of Empower New Haven, Inc. and its partnering faith-based and community development organizations. The Youth Empowerment Services Initiative provides much targeted capacity building activities to Youth Service Providers, in order to better meet the needs of New Haven’s disadvantaged youth.

Like many communities nationally, New Haven is experiencing a troubling trend of increased violent crime among youth, specifically homicides among African-American teenagers. While the city is undertaking several promising initiatives in attempts to curb this trend, it truly "takes a village" and we recognize the essential role that all must play in this effort, including our churches, the pillars of the community for generations.

It is the YES mission to craft a message of empowerment that connects with young people and charge the entire community to be a part of a "covenant" with New Haven’s youth, resolving to take specific action to combat the issue of youth violence in their neighborhoods, providing leadership in developing and mentoring youth, and investing our collective resources into healthy alternatives for youth.

Empower New Haven, Inc. assists its faith-based and community partners through technical assistance and training in four critical areas: 1) leadership development, 2) organizational development, 3) program development, and 4) community engagement. Capacity building activities are designed to increase an organization's sustainability and effectiveness, enhance its ability to provide social services, develop and/or diversify its funding sources, and create effective collaborations to better serve those most in need.

Resources

Youth Empower Services Directory