Washington, DC Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. is making headlines for a new program that adapts the YAP neighborhood-based youth Advocate-mentor model to empower justice-involved adults ages 18-35 with work and life tools.

DC YAP Advocate-mentors serving as Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) Credible Messengers are helping men who have either returned home after serving time in prison or were recently arrested for violent crimes. Like the men they serve, most of the YAP Credible Messengers have faced charges or served time in prison. The goal of the program is to strengthen individuals, families and neighborhoods to make DC communities that are most impacted by violent crime safer.

DC YAP Credible Messenger Jonathan Fox and program participant Nokomis Hunter joined DYRS Director Clinton Lacey to talk about the program on DC’s ABC7-NewsChannel 8’s Good Morning Washington.