This quarter’s session will spotlight three dynamic presenters whose work is transforming the lives of youth in Passaic County:

Dr. Liza Chowdhury, Executive Director and Reimagining Justice/Project Director of the Paterson Healing Collective will present on the innovative Safe Summer Teen Club program, funded through recent Innovations Funding.  This initiative empowered justice-involved youth in Paterson through training, peer engagement, and conflict resolution.  Her presentation will highlight:

• Innovations Funding Utilization: How funding was used to hire and train justice-involved youth in conflict mediation skills, while enrolling their peers and other system-involved youth into the program. 
• Workshops Conducted: Curated summer sessions focused on cognitive-behavioral therapy rewire, conflict mediation, and community care. 
• Empowerment and Cohesion: The program’s goal is to unite youth with active conflicts, enabling them to mediate disputes and foster peaceful coexistence within the Paterson community. 

Dr. A. Tamika Quick, Founder & CEO of Leading Young Women, Inc. will share her organization’s mission to empower girls of color from underserved communities.  Highlights include:

• Signature Programs: Diamonds & Gems (high school mentoring), EmpowerHer (middle school enrichment), and the LeadHer Collective.
• Community Impact: Collaborations with schools, families, and local partners to foster academic, social, and emotional growth.
• Vision Forward: Plans for the Girls Academy for Leadership and Excellence charter school.

Shannon McFadden, CEO of the Jerome McFadden Educational Center, LLC. will shed light on the complex and often overlooked intersection between intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the juvenile justice system.  Her presentation will explore:

• Systemic Gaps: How educational, behavioral health, and social service systems may inadvertently contribute to the criminalization of youth with IDD.
• Early Warning Signs: Identifying risk factors and missed intervention opportunities that lead to justice involvement.
• Case Studies & Data: Real-world examples and statistics illustrating the disproportionate impact on youth with cognitive and developmental challenges.
• Call to Action: Strategies for youth service providers, educators, and justice professionals to advocate for inclusive, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate responses.

These sessions are designed for youth service providers, educators, probation professionals, and community leaders seeking to deepen their impact through collaboration and innovation.

Kindly RSVP by September 15, 2025. Lunch will be served, and pre-registration is required.

Register Here: https://forms.gle/WtDGMs6Ft78x67yS9