I support the efforts of the New Haven Family Alliance. Through its clothing drives, feeding and housing the homeless and other community based programs the organization is touching the lives of many people within the New Haven Community.
The New Haven Help Alliance is an outstanding organization that is working hard to make a positive difference in the lives of young people within the New Haven area.
I have been with the Greater New Haven Help Alliance for many years and just became a lead worker in the Youth Initiative Program. I really enjoy the environment that it gives. They send a positive message to the youth that are in the program. They also allow a safe place for youth to be during the summer instead of being out in the streets getting into trouble. As a Lead worker, I have gotten a lot of essential experience. I learned how to better lead my peers and how to hold workshops that help keep the youth on the right path.
The Greater New Haven Help Alliance is a great place for youth to go and be enriched with not only work experience, but a christian experience. During the summer, we hold workshops that are fun and have a special meaning behind it. We always compare what was done in the workshop to certain events that happen in the bible. It gives the youth more undertanding to the teachings of the staff.
Overall, it is a great place for youth to learn and grow in many ways. it is a safe environment for fellowship and gives practical experience in the work place.
Greater New Haven Help Alliance is a terrific nonprofit that focuses on poverty and youth issues. It's summer Youth Initiative Program provides kids with practical job skill training as well as addresses character development. As an advisor to the program I have had the privilege of seeing youth come into the program with no direction and leave the program confident and focused with a plan and a purpose! The strength of the program seems to lie in the fact that much care is given to create and foster a loving supportive environment. The enthusiasm of the leaders is absolutely contagious and the youth thrive on the support and positive experience received in both their training and in their job placements. I believe the program would benefit from increased finances which would enable the program to include more participants.
The Greater New Haven Help Alliance participated in a program known as Abraham’s Tent. This is a program where The Greater New Haven Help Alliance housed 12 homeless men for a week that could have otherwise been on the streets of New Haven. It was a joy to provide shelter, meals and activities for them. I had the opportunity to meet and know personally a great group of men. One gentleman was able to secure a lease on an apartment and was hired for a job; another was able to reunite with his family. It was an honor and privilege to serve these men.
Rev. James Roundtree
My name is Jason Goubourn and I am the Director of Greater New Haven Help Alliance's Youth Initiative summer leadership program. Youth Initiative is an outstanding program that does an uncanny job of training the young leaders of today.
This program began training and developing approximately twenty of the Greater New Haven’s young people in the summer of 2004. Since then the program has blossomed serving an average of 30 young people each summer since its beginning. Youth Initiative is a program that gathers young people from different areas of New Haven into one setting in order to daily shed light on the issues that most commonly impede smooth transitions into adulthood, the workforce, and life as a healthy contributor to society and community. Not only do we expose important issues that lie under the surface, but we provide learning experiences that allow the young people to internalize their importance and decide to meet these challenges head on. Through an incorporation of lectures, hands-on workshops, journaling, discussion, and real life work experience, the Youth Initiative Program fosters personal growth, intentional preparation, and compels our teens to consider themselves as individuals as well as essential parts of the collective.
One aspect of the program that makes it unique is the role the provided work experience plays in the lives of the participants. Every summer Youth Initiative strives to place young people at establishments that compliment their career aspirations. In the past we have had aspiring attornies volunteer at a law office and through the experience gained are now studying law at prestigious universities such as New York University and Quinnipiac University. We have had aspiring nurses volunteer at nursing homes through youth initiative that are now in college studying to be registered nurses.
It is always a joy to see the young leaders of today come in unsure of themselves and unaware of their potential and leave skilled, focused, and ready for the world.
Jason Goubourn
Director, GNHHA: Youth Initiative
The Greater New Haven Help Alliance is a non-profit organization with a marked difference.... With hardly any publicity or funding, it is already actively serving the Greater New Haven area and beyond in the vital areas that directly impact the core needs of the recipients... Specifically, the mentoring programs have helped develop kids, complementing their basic education and preparing them for the "real world".....
Greater New Haven Help Alliance is a great faith based non-profit organization design to assist those that are most in need. Our mission is to reach as many people we can with one goal in mind total restoration of their lives. In addition, we are also targeting our youth by offering programs that will give them the necessary life skills to succeed in life.
I have had the privilege of serving on the board since its inception. GNHHA serves an underserved group of young adults in the New Haven community, namely young adolescents. The focus is channeling their skills, talents and energies in a positive direction before they fall under the influence of school dropouts, gangs and drugs. Although the opening of a youth center has been stalled due to a zoning appeal, the organization is optimistic and continues to work to improve the prospects of New Haven's young people. In addition, our executive director has worked in Africa and Haiti to help provide basic services such as clean water and safe shelter.
While the Greater New Haven Help Alliance has had impact on poverty issues around the world, it has particularly proven to be valuable asset to the city of New Haven in the area of Youth Services. They run a boys mentoring program, a girls mentoring program and a Summer work/leadership program.
I have personally seen the growth in young people who entered the programs as students and evolved into exceptional leaders. One formerly "stand-offish" young lady particularly comes to mind. When she first arrived at the Summer Youth program it wasn't clear that she really wanted to be there. Now in college, it brings me real joy to see her effectively and enthusiastically lead today's participants. The Help Alliance gave her a place to grow and develop skills that will help her throughout her life and career.