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Vision

Research shows that youth from underserved communities who participate in quality after-school programs perform better in school, are more likely to avoid negative influences, and have a much better chance of finishing high school, attending college, and continuing on to professional employment.  NJ LEEP will implement the proven, quality, Legal Outreach model in northern New Jersey.

NJ LEEP recognizes that a program seeking to empower urban youth to greater educational achievement must do so with a three-fold focus on skills, habits, and exposure.

Exposure:  It is very difficult to develop a vision of success if one has never seen such success manifested.  NJ LEEP will be committed to the “pipeline diversity” project which seeks to encourage greater minority representation in the legal profession by exposing minority students to legal study at an early age.  Thus, NJ LEEP will develop a mentoring program in which attorneys will be assigned to students.  Mentors will take students to their place of employment, help them prepare for law-related events, take them to visit their alma maters, and advise them in their academic pursuits.  The Summer Law Institute will also empower students to realize their ability to make legal arguments, and expose them to lawyers, law professors, and judges on a daily basis.

Skills:  Educational empowerment must begin with concrete skill building.  Students must understand the basics of grammar, writing, reading comprehension, and logical analysis if they are to strive toward and excel in post-secondary education. 

NJ LEEP recognizes that basic skills can most effectively be taught in a model of creative, interactive student-centered learning which empowers the students to believe they are themselves developing and applying important skills.  Thus, NJ LEEP will utilize mock trials, constitutional debates, and other law-related educational tools to excite students about learning, while teaching them important skills such as analysis, reading comprehension, and public speaking.

NJ LEEP, however, will also employ an after-school math skills program.  Drawing upon his educational background in both math and law, Craig Livermore will develop an after-school program which recognizes that math skills development, as well as law-related education, are not only important in their own right, but empower students to greater analytical and problem solving ability in all academic spheres.

Habits:  NJ LEEP will follow the Legal Outreach lead in recognizing that habits and values such as diligence, respect, self-sacrifice, organization, and cooperation are essential elements of a successful academic and professional career.  NJ LEEP will build an every day culture of respect, order, self-discipline and accountability which will allow students to develop the character necessary for academic achievement.  In addition, NJ LEEP will instruct students concerning the importance of such characteristics in leadership classes.  Such classes will emphasize the manner in which the achievement of each student can benefit the entire community.