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Volunteer Testimonials

“I wanted to say thanks for organizing the P2C program. I really had a good experience. I've done some other volunteer programs in my years at Maryland, but I often feel like there's a big disconnect between volunteers and the population/issue that they're trying to "help". It's frustrating. I liked the P2C program because it felt genuine, and because at the end it seemed like something good came out of it. Also, the boys in Imani were really fun to be around… Saturday mornings at Oak Hill were the highlight of my last semester of senior year at the University of Maryland." “I learned about the prison industrial complex that places many youth on a path to incarceration. In volunteering and leadership often times we think we are the ones who will be teaching, but on a weekly basis, I was the one who was learning. Oak Hill relieves us of the opportunity to ignore race, class, and our community. P2CP ingrains racial inequality in your mind and from that point on it will never leave you." “My biggest lesson learned about the incarcerated youth at Oak Hill is that the youth are extremely intelligent youth who are often times underestimated by society. They have taught me how important communication is in today’s society. This experience has been enlightening for me as I’ve learned things about myself and my history that I may not have known without the program. I’m fortunate to have been able to share experiences with the youth." “A great source of apathy on college campuses stems from students thinking that as an individual, they can’t actually make a drastic positive change in society. JDCY is a program that can breed students who actually do something and a program that can completely change someone’s perspective on life." “This experience has impacted my life by opening my eyes and broadening my horizons. I feel like before this experience I may have been reluctant to want to help children in these conditions, but now I have found a passion for working with troubled youth." “I really want to be involved with incarcerated/inner city youth and this program has fed into my passion. Im truly blown away with my experience with "A." We created a comfortable learning environment and that taught me a lot about myself as a teacher and a person. "

Prison to College Pipeline Participant Testimonials

(Names have been abbreviated to protect confidentiality)

“This program challenged me by doing things I’ve never did, like writing a college essay and breaking down my goals and future." “I would learn more about good ways to get a job and how to present myself at an interview...it give you a lot to look forward to. They help you with what you want to be in the future.” “I enjoy the group and I really learned something and found what I can do in life as far as school and my future. I appreciate [JDCY] coming and taking time out of the day to visit me/us at Oak Hill. Thank you for your time." “They make us feel like family" “The program had a big impact on me in many was, such as being a leader, following the right people, also the games that we played was a lot of fun and I would like to see more of it. Ya’ll have taught us a lot about how to be outgoing, etc. I think that it should happen more often. I would like to say thank you for your time and dedication."

New Beginnings Staff Testimonials

“I believe that JDCY’s mentoring program will greatly increase our department’s goals of expanding positive youth development opportunities, connecting youth with caring adults, and ultimately reducing recidivism rates for youth involved in the District’s juvenile justice system. The program has already shown positive results and I hope will become a national model that is replicable in other states.” “I would say [JDCY is] a group of individuals that believe in change for our youth no matter where they come from or what they’ve been through. They are all about giving themselves to show the youth that there is another way… Just the dedication and commitment, that takes a whole lot.” “It’s an inspiration to bring in other young people. Y’all have done a heck of a job.”