Looking towards Lafayette
Colorado House Bill 25-1146 created two years of pilot funding for a Youth Deflection and Community Investment grant program. The grant RFP opened in early May and closed in early June. Over 120 organizations started applications, with less than half of that at 58 applications completed by the quick turnaround. BRITE was one of those applications. In the end, BRITE was one of only 13 organizations that received this funding across the state.
What will BRITE do with the funding?
Great question. After 32 years of providing pre-file deflection Restorative Justice programming to the residents of Longmont and students of St Vrain Valley School District, BRITE is expanding programs into the city of Lafayette, Colorado.
The point of the funding was to catch youth at the earliest possible moment before coming into contact with law enforcement. BRITE is partnering with three community-based nonprofit organizations and Lafayette’s largest schools: Centaurus and Angevine.
This new program addresses significant racial and ethnic disparities in youth policing and discipline in Lafayette, Longmont, and Frederick. These disparities demonstrate the need for culturally responsive, trauma-informed deflection and prevention services that intervene before deeper justice system involvement occurs.
BRITE and partners will implement a mixed-delivery, restorative justice (RJ), and youth development model that includes pre-file Restorative Justice conferencing, credible messenger mentoring, behavioral health and resource navigation, family education, leadership development, and culturally grounded prosocial programming.
Our partners include Colorado Youth Empowerment Center (CYEC), Espacios Para Jóvenes (EPJ), Cultural Brokers Advocates (CBA), and Boulder Valley School District’s Restorative Justice Coordinator.
CYEC’s “Roots to Futures” cohort will engage youth in bilingual civic leadership, restorative practices, and cultural identity development. Espacios Para Jóvenes provides bilingual support, mentoring, and culturally aligned family navigation services. Cultural Brokers Advocates is a connector to culturally based health services and is vital to training all stakeholders in cultural responsiveness.
BRITE has a 2-year goal to replicate proven pre-file deflection services with Lafayette PD. Anticipated outcomes include reduced arrests, citations, and recidivism; increased youth accountability, school engagement, and leadership; improved access to culturally responsive behavioral health and family supports; and stronger community-based alternatives to justice system involvement for disproportionately impacted youth.
We’d love for you to be involved. To lift this off the ground we need people power! Those interested in volunteering can start by filling out this volunteer application in English o aqui en espanol. By volunteering, you too can gain valuable Restorative skills that apply to all relationships.
Don’t have the time to volunteer? Your financial contribution will help to reach all community members. You can donate online here, or email Kristen@BriteCollab.Org for more ways to support this initiative.
