Urban Youth Program To Go

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 23, 2007 -
CTRIBAT, an urban youth violence prevention program, has changed its name to CTRIBAT (Children and Teens-Retreat) Institute for Social Development. The change was part of phase two planning for the organization.  Since becoming public in June of 2006, the organization has been positioning itself to become a national program.

Founder/Executive Director Shafiq Abdussabur stated that when he founded the organization in 2003 the name CTRIBAT or Connecticut-Retreat, seemed to be appropriate since the organization was focusing on urban youth in New England. However, after going public in the summer of 2006 it was very clear that the program components for CTRIBAT were taking on the characteristics of a national program.

Initial partnerships were established with City of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., New Haven Police Department Chief Francisco Ortiz, Jr., Yale University Office of New Haven and State Affairs, Yale New Haven Hospital, TYCO Printing, Jawalla Scouts, Empower New Haven, Balance Fitness Studio for Women, Nation Drill Team, BOLDMINDS Cultural Art Accents, Local 530, and National Association Black Law Enforcement Officers.

Over the past 12 months, CTRIBAT (Children and Teens-Retreat) Institute For Social Development or CTRIBAT, has established key relationships that have increased its program’s capacity. New partnerships include SEA-TV Video Production, New Haven Public Library, New Haven Independent, Male Involvement Network, Yale Police Department, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, Connecticut Children and Family Center Inc. and, most recently, the Housing Authority of New Haven.

CTRIBAT is most noted for its success in reducing gun violence among urban youth.The CTRIBAT 2006 Summer Leadership Retreat “Front Line” targeted the population of at-risk male youth ages 8 to 17 years old and created the conditions that led to the 400% reduction of firearm-related incidents in the urban sector of New Haven, Connecticut, known as Dixwell Avenue, a historic African-American community adjacent to Yale University.

Board of Directors: Fred Fulcher Jr. MSW. LADC., Lou Ann Bohman, Brenda Johnson, Sally Brown, Siraaj Muhammad. Honorary Board of Directors: Chief Francisco Ortiz Jr., Officer Carl Myers, Drew King. Founder/Executive Director: Shafiq R. F. Abdussabur. Executive Producer Arts & Media: Chip Croft. Directors of Development: Teretha Brooks, Clinton Robinson. Program Directors: Josh Lindo, Sonda Whitfield, Tracey Suggs, Edward Booker. Training Instructors: Officer Russell Blackwell, Officer Jason Jackson, Officer Joe Dease Jr. Committee on Research & Assessment: Shafiq Abdussabur, Mubarakah Ibrahim, Chip Croft, Teretha Brooks, Petisia Adger.

CTRIBAT (Children and Teens-Retreat) Institute For Social Development recent partnership with the Housing Authority of New Haven will provide a main office in the Dixwell Avenue area at 230 Ashmun Street in New Haven, Connecticut.