The state has awarded $500,000 to 23 non-profit organizations in New Haven through the Youth Violence Prevention Grant in hopes of keeping kids off the streets and sharpening their skills.
One of those recipients is Elephant in the Room Urban Youth Boxing in New Haven, which teaches young people not only about boxing but also about life.
“Last year, they only got $10,000, this year, they're getting $30,000 because they've demonstrated in a tough neighborhood that they can work with young people and keep them involved,” said Jason Bartlett, Director of Youth Services in New Haven.
He said each of the 23 grant recipients has its own programs with different goals and focuses. The grant money will go toward essential youth programs, engagement, peer mentoring and community mediation.
“It helps because in the non-profit world, it's not easy to get money. Even though people like to give money for youth, it's still very difficult, so what it does is it helps us leverage and collaborate and work together, get everyone on the same playing field in terms of what our goals and outcomes should be," Bartlett said.
The main goal is to keep New Haven's young people out of trouble.
“It's really important that young people that have young people have things that are positive and productive to do with their free time, and when they have that it reduces violence in our community,”’ said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.
