Helping Jersey City Students Make Mindful CHOICES The CHOICES Program is an alternative special education program, implemented in the Jersey City Public School system to achieve positive change and outcomes for at-risk students.  The acronym CHOICES stands for Choosing Honor, Opportunity, Integrity, Character, Excellence and Service. It signifies a commitment to help children with behavioral and emotional disabilities acquire self-regulation skills, social skills, and anger management techniques to improve their overall mental health and sense of well-being. The CHOICES academic program: Offers a low student to teacher ratio with a typical maximum of six students per class. Utilizes a behavioral management system (Class Dojo) to monitor classroom behavior. Teaches and reinforces behaviors necessary for a positive classroom setting. Provides 1:1 and group in-classroom counseling by psychologists and social workers. Includes [...]

Addressing LGBTQ+ Health Sensitivity Training Priorities Hudson Pride Center (HPC) is an organization that seeks to be an inclusive home and voice for the diverse LGBTQ+ community in Jersey City – home to the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning population in New Jersey. Over the past 25 years, HPC has delivered a wide array of services, programs, and events to address the evolving health and social support needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, peer circles, and families.   Health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ individuals in America most often arise from access-to-care barriers, such as a lack of financial/insurance resources, institutional discrimination, provider lack of knowledge about LGBTQ health needs, and perceived fears of how they might be treated by providers. Determined to address unmet LGBTQ+ health concerns, HPC prioritized constituent reluctance to [...]

Nurturing to Achieve Greatness  The word “Kismet” is an Islamic term that refers to something that is “meant to be”.  The Kismet of Kings organization believes in nurturing young men to realize their “meant to be” destiny as responsible family members, distinctive contributors to society, and positive community champions.   Kismet of Kings (KOK) serves black and brown male students ages 11-18 in Jersey City, New Jersey. The program engages this population, many of whom are from low income households, in academic and social learning opportunities. KOK seeks out mentors from diverse professional backgrounds including, but not limited to, individuals involved with the legal system, public service, science and medicine, law enforcement, and the private sector.  Mentor selection is important because it establishes an inner circle these young men can [...]