Project U-Turn Headstart
Project U-Turn Headstart is a K-4 socio-emotional learning program that’s classified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a Universal school based program. This is a primary violence prevention program that teaches children anti-violence and bodily autonomy principles through the prism of bullying. We want children to understand that it’s never okay to act aggressively towards other children (people), nor is it okay for other children (people) to act aggressively towards them.
This program is an annual interactive workshop that consists of facilitators going into elementary schools on a mission to get children to recognize each other’s humanity. If we can condition children to believe in the concept of community, we will be on our way to stopping violence and preventing mass incarceration. Through an anti-bullying message students will understand both empathy and bystander accountability.
Project U-Turn Wake Up
Project U-Turn Wake Up is an evidence based youth program (grades 5–12) that’s classified by the CDC as a Universal school based program. Wake Up is an
annual interactive workshop that consists of facilitators going into elementary, middle, and high schools to enhance students’ ability to think critically and exercise emotional intelligence, thereby allowing them to make better decisions, gain better emotional and behavioral control, buy into nonviolence messaging, seek out positive friendship and peer groups, become stakeholders in their communities by practicing bystander accountability, and embracing prosocial behaviors by educating them about the detriments of perpetrating violence (i.e., bullying, physical fights, sexual misconduct, dating violence, and gun violence). Lastly, students will be taught how to de-escalate violence and understand that gun violence is never the solution to any problem.
The Project U-Turn Headstart and Wake Up programs can operate effectively alone. However, if school districts, municipalities, counties, and states can commit to delivering these programs in tandem (K-12) their collective impact can result in a wholesale culture shift that can prevent violence before it occurs and prevent our nation’s youth from becoming convicted felons.
Project U-Turn Life Skills Mentorship Program (PLSMP)
Project U-Turn Life Skills Mentorship Program was created in response to state governments’ juvenile needs assessments and evidence based youth and young adult programs that are classified by the CDC as Universal school based programming. PLSMP will provide at risk youth and young adults with the knowledge, life skills, and emotional tools that they will need to succeed through the praxis of empathy building, effective communication, and prosocial behavior. This ten week program consists of trained facilitators going into carceral environments, alternative schools, and other structured environments reserved for youth and young adults to enhance program participants’ ability to think critically and exercise emotional intelligence, thereby allowing them to make better decisions by increasing their emotional and behavioral control. The program is a collection of workshops that will be essential components of the program participants’ social and psychological development. Program participants will begin to think more serious about their futures and how criminal conduct can negatively impact their lives if they don’t make emotionally intelligent decisions. At the conclusion of the program, students will have the knowledge they will need to succeed in life and see themselves as stakeholders in their communities.
Project U-Turn Felony Diversion Program
Project U-Turn Felony Diversion Program targets first time felony offenders who have been sentenced to court ordered felony diversion which allows defendants (persons) to have their felony record cleared after the successful completion of their designated probationary period. Persons sentenced to diversion are generally encouraged to successfully complete the terms of their probation under the threat of being sent to prison. However, a threat by itself is wholly insufficient. Persons need to understand why they need to maintain a clean record and stay out of prison. The facilitators in this program will be system impacted citizens who can bear witness to the dangers of prison, civil disenfranchisement, and the various forms of legalized discrimination faced by convicted felons (i.e., education, housing, healthcare, occupation, political participation, etc.). After the completion of this 10 week program, program participants will understand the unforeseen pain they will experience if they ever become a convicted felon.
(Note: If parents are looking for an intervention tool, this program is ideal for youth and young adults whose parents believe that their child(ren) are headed down a path that will ruin their future(s).)
The GJS Programs are currently not available for licensing