Inglewood, CA – This month, Centinela Youth Services, Inc.(CYS) joins the nation and all volunteer-assisted organizations in recognizing and honoring volunteers and encouraging the spirit and movement of volunteering.
Each week of National Volunteer Month, CYS will highlight one of their volunteer’s unique contributions on their social media platform. CYS will also post weekly testimonial reels featuring volunteers who will speak briefly on the impacts of restorative justice mediation and why they volunteer with CYS.
Throughout the history of CYS, volunteers have contributed significantly to our mission of providing youth development programs and restorative justice alternatives to the arrest and prosecution of youths, “putting justice back in the hands of the community,” stated Jessica Ellis, Executive Director of CYS.
Volunteer Ariella Morrison said about her time with CYS, “When I learned how the organization was using restorative justice mediation to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline,” she says, “I knew I’d found the place I was looking for.”
After training to be involved in both the Victim Offender Restitution program and the Family Mediation Program, Morrison began building her legacy with CYS, saying, “I value the opportunity to build and experience these… relationships, and to see the transformation unfold over several sessions.”
People using CYS services have found lasting healing and positive changes in their families.
One mother involved in CYS’s family mediation program wrote to thank her CYS volunteer mediators. “When we first came to you, we were at the end of the rope with little hope. We were miserable…nobody likes being told what to do, or [be] criticized. You never did that. You gave us the tools to be parents.” She included a picture of her son’s new report card filled with As and Bs, as well as pictures of their son’s smiling face at their new tradition of monthly family dinners.
CYS mediators, surrogate victim advocates, and language interpreters have volunteered countless hours toward keeping youths out of jail and in school and making Los Angeles County communities safer for everyone.
“CYS volunteers are crucial to our organization’s efforts to help strengthen families and communities, empower youths through peaceful conflict resolution, and help young people realize their full potential,” said Ellis. “I continue to be inspired by the stories of reconciliation and healing human connections that our volunteer mediators help facilitate.”
About CYS:
Centinela Youth Services, Inc. is committed to promoting the use of restorative principles to resolve situations and address behavior in a way that empowers the people harmed, respects those responsible, and benefits the wider community.
Contact:
Jessica Ellis: jellis@cya-la.org, (310) 970-7702
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cys_la
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentinelaYouthServices/
Youtube: https://bit.ly/3jL3HsL
Media Contact
Company Name: Centinela Youth Services
Contact Person: Jessica J. Ellis
Email: Send Email
Phone: 3109707702
Country: United States
Website: www.cys-la.org