City Hall: Giving at-risk kids a choice

Dec. 11—KIDS IN THE CITY of Manchester who are referred to juvenile diversion and mediation programs likely come from impoverished, single-parent homes, where culture, language barriers and childhood trauma put them at a higher risk of delinquency.

When a child is brought up in a single-parent home, often where one parent is incarcerated, they experience a feeling of authority from that parent, rather than a sense of sameness, said Evenor Pineda, an intervention programming coordinator with the Manchester Police Athletic League (MPAL). This type of child-parent dynamic causes issues for kids outside the home with people in positions of authority, like their teachers or police.

Founded in 1992, MPAL is a nonprofit that does intervention work with Manchester youth in hopes of fostering positive relationships with the police department. It includes regular athletic programming, cooking classes and intervention programs, like CHOICES, a pilot program launched in September.

CHOICES is spearheaded on the ground by Pineda. Mentors like him, who are rehabilitated criminals, work one-on-one with kids to teach them the value of interpersonal relationships and de-escalation tactics with authority figures. Pineda was released from prison 3 1/2 years ago after serving a lengthy prison sentence for second-degree murder, which he committed in 2005 when he was 24.

"For the kids that struggle in groups, this helps them foster better relationships," Pineda said. "The intimacy of being one-on-one with the child allows that relationship to build. They don't have the consistency of adults in their lives and most parents come from an authoritative standpoint, but we kneel to meet them."

Pineda is one of four formerly incarcerated men who work with kids in the program weekly to teach them about the dangers of street culture and gang culture and to help them make better choices for themselves. Convicted felons carry the lived experience and knowledge to debunk myths about street culture and help kids recognize the consequences of the risks they're taking.

CHOICES is an offshoot of MPAL's futures program, which was founded in 2020 in response to gang-related videos made by children. The programs are designed similarly, but unlike CHOICES, futures uses a peer group-based model that meets weekly over the course of three months. CHOICES is a year-long, referral-based program for kids that need more attention and struggle in group environments.

The idea, said Executive Director John Rainville, is for kids who are going down dangerous paths to find a sense of community with their mentors.

"These kids are looking for a sense of belonging, a sense of support, someone to have their back," he said. "If they're not getting that at home or at school, they're turning to their peers and there are a lot of negative influences that can get some of them on a self-destructive path.

"They're looking for something to be part of and sometimes, it's dangerous. There's a high level of risk but they're feeling connected in a way they haven't before," Rainville said.

As these patterns emerge, kids are recommended to the program by parents, school resource officers, guidance counselors, probation officers, police officers and sometimes prosecutors. In Pineda's role as an intervention coordinator, he meets kids where they are and tries to interrupt those negative connections.

"We speak their language, we come from the same neighborhoods and we can share with them the frustrations that they feel," he said. "If we can head that off sooner rather than later, we can give them validation that they are seen and cared about."

The program is designed for kids 11 to 17 who have displayed problems in school and/or have a history of criminal behavior. To be referred to the program, they must have two or more of the following risk factors: low self-esteem, substance misuse, a past criminal history, low motivation or trauma.

Measuring the progress of the program will take years, time that Rainville and Pineda might not have if they cannot find additional funding sources to support them when this year's funding runs out. Earlier this year, the program received $100,000 in rollover ARPA funds from the Manchester Police Department to support the first year of their work.

By September next year, MPAL will need other income streams — private or public partnerships, grant funding, events, donations and/or community partnerships — to stay afloat. With additional funding, they could continue the program and hire two additional intervention specialists and one part-time clinical supervisor.

If the program survives, Rainville and Pineda will work with the school district and the police department long-term to measure its success through juvenile arrest rates, the percentage of re-offense and suspension rates.

General recognition

The Manchester Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division recently received a donation from Gail Vercauteren, widow of Brig. Gen. Richard Vercauteren.

The $10,000 donation was approved by the full Board of Mayor and Alderman on Tuesday.

Richard Vercauteren grew up in Manchester near Prout Park. He lived a remarkable life, rising to the rank of brigadier general in the Marine Corps. Besides growing up in the city's parks, he worked for Manchester Water Works and the highway department.

His legacy was honored at a ceremony this summer in Prout Park. Sen. Lou D'Allesandro had requested the entrance to the park be named General Richard Vercauteren Way.

Jamie Costa covers the city of Manchester for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. Reach her at jcosta@unionleader.com.

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