When students enroll at Anchor Academy, we look well beyond their past difficulties and struggles, and we are able to give each student a fresh start. This past week, we were reminded of this aspect of our school after receiving a visit from one of our recent graduates.

When Josh enrolled in Anchor Academy, his ultimate goal was to join the Marines. This past year, Josh achieved that goal.

With rising incidents of juvenile crime, including a spate of youth-involved shootings and firearms arrests, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has announced the creation of a new city task force aimed at preventing youth violence and addressing the trauma of victimized individuals, families and communities.

Jenese Brownhill, Director of JRI's Juvenile Justice Division was recently interviewed for this story pertaining to the task force on youth violence.

Sexual assault, bullying and harassment are traumatic for all survivors of any age. Transgender and non-binary youth are at high risk for encountering these experiences, which can lead to the development of complex trauma that may include a lack of trust in other people and even estrangement from their own bodies.

JRI has recently received $100,000 to support staff members pursuing their graduate degrees.

Congratulations to the several members who were selected as scholarship recipients and have been awarded scholarships to undertake studies for their master’s degrees.

Here are some recipients who shared what this scholarship means to them: 

Guiding our clients toward recovery from substance use disorder.

The opioid epidemic has increased the demand for effective recovery services, and Justice Resource Institute’s Mary Chao is leading the organization’s training program for clinicians and other staff members to aid them in helping clients recover.

Dr. Williams has worked with JRI for a decade and served as medical director for JRI’s children’s residential programs and oversaw psychiatric care throughout the agency. In her new role, she will work with other senior leaders at JRI to ensure the highest standards of care in psychiatry, nursing and other medical systems.

The Housing is Healthcare program is funded by the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to provide extensive and longterm housing and case management services.

"We have had [a] longstanding commitment to addressing public health issues, particularly where there is an intersection with social justice and health equity,” Gatto said. “We are grateful for the partnership with the Mass. Department of Public Health, which will allow us to prioritize monkeypox vaccination for men who have sex with men, where the disease currently is most prevalent"

- John Gatto, SVP for community health at JRI

The monkeypox vaccine at the JRI Health state backed monkeypox vaccination site in Framingham, July 25, 2022.

JRI's Trauma Informed Weight Lifting program was featured in this New York Time's article. 

Read the full article.