Queens Defenders
The Young Adult Leaders cohort at Queens Defenders provides paid job opportunities paired with youth development services for twelve young people residing in Far Rockaway. With MFF support, Queens Defenders will establish a Youth Development Manager position to develop individualized college and career plans for each Leader, giving these young people a dedicated and trusted source for academic and workforce readiness support, engagement towards community activism, and the development of peer mentoring relationships.
“As a youth leader and a mentor, I have to show what I am really about everywhere I go. Every time I have my Queens Defenders shirt on, I am dedicated, I am part of the team, I feel good because I earned it, I worked hard for it, and I got it. When I feel like giving up, I say to myself ‘my community depends on me, they need my help.’ I am so happy that we work together at Queens Defenders to do this.”