Introduction to Youth Ministries

Guided by a prophetic faith, YMPJ's purpose is to transform both the people and the physical infrastructure of blighted South Bronx neighborhoods and change the systems that negatively impact them. Founded in 1994, the mission of Youth Ministries for Peace & Justice (YMPJ) is to rebuild the neighborhoods of Bronx River and Soundview/Bruckner in the South Bronx by preparing young people to become prophetic voices for peace and justice. We accomplish this through political education, spiritual formation, and youth and community development and organizing.

Youth Programs

Our four centers work together to provide youth leadership and youth development.

Youth & Community Organizing

Arts for Activism

Wellness

Education for Liberation

Wellness

Encourages a holistic approach to health by exposing youth and adult residents to methods of healing that address their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Our program provides the space for: Mental Health Counseling for

Young Women

Spiritual Formation

S.O.P.H.I.A.

S.O.P.H.I.A. is a unique space at YMPJ dedicated to the spiritual wellness and development of young women. The young women come together to heal and empower each other as they come of age in the South Bronx and become agents of change in the community.

Strategy for Transformation

• We conduct our work through a three-pronged transformative approach:– Transform People – Transform Systems– Transform Infrastructure.

• We utilize a unique model of political education, spiritual formation, and youth and community development and organizing.

Sophia

Education Self- Awareness

Healthy Women

Organize

TransformationEffect

S.O.P.H.I.A. Community

S.O.P.H.I.A. is a supportive and sustaining community. The young women are building:

Safe space for disclosure and fellowship

An environment for a conclusive power analysis

PoliticalEducation

Peer Mentoring Counseling

Healing

Spiritual Formation

Sophia (safe space)

• Through S.O.P.H.I.A., we educate and inspire young women within the same setting. Then these young women teach the other youth that attend the program. As a result, both groups are able to educate and have an impact in the larger community.

S.O.P.H.I.A. Module

Contact Information:

Youth Ministries for Peace & Justice 1384 Stratford Avenue

Bronx, NY 10472 Tel: (718) 328-5622 Fax: (718) 328-5630

Email: news@ympj.org