Municipal Network on Disconnected Youth (MNDY)

Overview

Formed in 2002, the Municipal Network on Disconnected Youth (MNDY) is a nationwide peer learning community of municipal leaders who are concerned about older (16-24) young people who are out of work, out of school, and lack strong connections to the community and caring adults.  MNDY is a resource that municipal officials, and those who work with such officials, may use to create and continuously improve partnerships, policies, and programs that re-engage older youth with education, employment, and their communities.

This work began in recognition of the fact that disconnected youth who are unemployed, high school dropouts, homeless, teen parents, or involved in the justice system or child welfare systems post significant challenges to cities and towns across the country.  MNDY bolsters cross-system collaboration by helping municipal leaders share ideas, resources, and strategies for confronting these challenges.

Membership

More than 500 local elected officials and senior municipal staff from cities across the country belong to MNDY.  This network is open to all municipal officials who are interested in joining, as well as other local leaders with an interest in disconnected youth policy and programs.  A MNDY Steering Committee guides the network’s activities and focus.

Benefits

• Monthly e-newsletter: MNDY members receive monthly e-mail updates that highlight YEF Institute activities and resources, showcase promising city efforts, spotlight strategies and approaches to cross-system collaboration, and include additional resources, research, and relevant news items.
• Quarterly audioconference series: MNDY members can take part in a quarterly audioconference series focusing on a range of pertinent issues, from supporting youth transitioning out of foster care to sharing data across local agencies to identifying effective dropout prevention and recovery strategies.
• Site visits:  In 2008-09, the YEF Institute partnered with the American Youth Policy Forum in sponsoring site visits to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Newark to help MNDY members learn first-hand about innovative strategies for reengaging disconnected youth.
• Periodic meetings and conference calls:  MNDY Steering Committee members participate in occasional meetings held at NLC conferences and events, as well as monthly conference calls on a broad range of issues.

Sample Resources

MNDY Newsletter (December 2008) >>

How to Join

To join the Municipal Network on Disconnected Youth, click here.  For questions about MNDY, contact Andrew Moore at (215) 848-6910 or moore@nlc.org.

California Cities Gang Prevention Network (CCGPN)

Overview

Formed in 2007, the California Cities Gang Prevention Network, the first of its kind in the nation, focuses on successful anti-gang policies and practices that interweave prevention, intervention, enforcement and a community’s “moral voice” as an alternative to prison-only solutions.  NLC and the Oakland-based National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) sponsor the network of 13 major cities.  The network goals are to:

• Identify and document successful strategies and approaches to reduce gang violence and victimization;
• Forge a vibrant peer learning network among the 13 participating cities to help them develop and implement comprehensive, balanced, citywide gang prevention plans; and
• Identify state and federal policies that would support effective local practices.

NLC and NCCD launched the three-year project with support from the California Wellness Foundation, the California Endowment, the East Bay Community Foundation, the Richmond Children’s Foundation, and the Evelyn and Walter Haass, Jr., Fund.

Participating cities include Fresno, Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley), Oakland, Oxnard, Richmond, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Stockton.
Learn more about the California Cities Gang Prevention Network »

Membership

This is a closed 13-city network.  Local elected officials and senior municipal staff join law enforcement officials, school district administrators, community organizations, county agencies, and a range of other partners in broad-based teams to develop and implement a local gang prevention plan.  An Advisory Board guides the network and assists with state and federal policy proposals.

Benefits

• Periodic bulletins and regular e-mails: NCCD sends a periodic bulletin to network members highlighting city strategies, upcoming events, and gang prevention resources.  Network members also receive frequent emails from YEF Institute staff and consultants highlighting important news, policy issues, and funding opportunities.
• Cross-city peer learning:  CCGPN project cities interact with each other and with YEF Institute and NCCD staff and other experts on a regular basis through conference calls, site visits, and phone consultations.  In addition, the network meets twice per year – once for project team leads and once for all city teams. 
• Resource bank: In addition the bulletins, network members receive information on a broad range of topics, which are made available at the network Web site: www.ccgpn.org.  These resources include a strategy guide on Implementing a Citywide Gang Violence Reduction Plan, a paper on Developing a Successful Street Outreach Program, and a toolkit on Preventing Gang Violence and Building Communities Where Young People Thrive.

Sample Resources

CCGPN Bulletin #17 (December 2009) »

How to Join

This network is only open to members of the 13 project city teams.  To learn more about the California Cities Gang Prevention Network, click here or contact Leon Andrews at (202) 626-3039 or andrews@nlc.org. 

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