Manchester Police Program Connects At-Risk Youth With Former Prisoners

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police are doing their part to "build trust and drive positive change" through a program to connect at-risk youth and formerly incarcerated people.

The Manchester Police Athletic League is an after-school organization that "connects cops and kids" intending to impact the lives of young people in Manchester. One of its programs, called Choices, launched in Sept. 2023 and pairs young people with mentors who have lived through the correctional system to develop practical skills.

"MPAL's mission is to offer youth a safe, structured environment through various athletic and enrichment programs like boxing, aikido, wrestling, cooking, cross-training, girls empowerment, and skateboarding," a program spokesperson said in a news release Thursday. "[Choices] aims to steer young people away from the court system by addressing behavioral issues early and providing constructive alternatives."

In addition to Choices, an intensive one-to-one mentoring initiative to foster positive choices and productive community involvement, MPAL also offers the only accredited juvenile court diversion program in the city of Manchester and a weekly group skill-building program called Futures.

"Both programs benefit from the involvement of vetted formerly incarcerated individuals, like [Evenor Pineda, the program's intervention programming coordinator, and Tony Hebert, MPAL volunteer and mentor] who offer relatable guidance and consistent support," the spokesperson said.

"Leveraging their past experiences to connect with youth on a deeper level, these mentors help them navigate challenges, set goals, and develop resilience," according to a spokesperson.

Pineda added that "It brings a different dynamic when we can sit in the room and say, 'Hey, this is exactly what I did at your age. You're doing the same thing I did.'"

And according to Herbert, building trust and understanding has a bigger impact than the cautionary tale.

"What's special about us is not our experience; it's the ability to be vulnerable with these kids and open up without glorifying our past," he said.

For more information, visit MPAL's website.