The Massachusetts Bar Association celebrated the graduating students from the Supreme Judicial Court’s Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) program in Worcester (bottom photo) and Springfield (top photo) during JYC Appreciation Day ceremonies last week.
Established by the SJC in 1991, the JYC program teaches young people about the role of the judicial branch and the legal values and principles on which it is based. It offers hands-on legal instruction to diverse groups of students from urban areas, including its original location in Boston.
The MBA joined with the SJC in 2007 to expand the program to Worcester, and it continues to administer the Worcester program in partnership with the SJC with funding from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation’s Fellows Fund. The MBA helped bring the JYC program to Springfield for the first time in 2014. The JYC program’s return to Springfield this year after a brief hiatus was also made possible thanks in part to funding from the MBF.
According to the SJC, there have been more than 500 JYC program graduates since the program’s inception.
Return to Springfield
The Springfield JYC Appreciation Day was held on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Roderick J. Ireland Courthouse in Springfield.
Following an introduction from Téa Wilmot, JD, the assistant director of law admissions at Western New England University School of Law, MBA President-elect Victoria M. Santoro offered welcome remarks at the ceremony, praising students, program administrators and court personnel for their efforts over the summer.
Other Springfield ceremony speakers included Hon. Kevin V. Maltby, first justice, Springfield District Court; MBF President G. Perry Wu; and attorneys Nicole Belbin and Beth Cohen from WNE University School of Law, who coordinated the Springfield JYC program.
Throughout the six-week program, Springfield JYC students engaged in educational programs, and visited and worked in various court departments overseen by court employees who mentored the students throughout the summer. Student placements were at the Western Housing Court, Hampden Probate and Family Court, Springfield District Court and Hampden County Superior Court.
Springfield JYC students also participated in the Judge Shadow Day, with Hon. Kevin V. Maltby, first justice, Springfield District Court; Hon. Charles W. Groce III, first justice, Westfield District Court; Hon. Tina W. Cafaro, associate justice, District Court; and Hon. Danielle L. Williams, associate justice, District Court.
Congratulations to the 2024 Springfield JYC graduates: Shanece Barker, Shanezka Irizarry Hernandez, Joi-Lee Key-Washington, Oliviyah J. Love and Brian Starzyk!
Worcester JYC Marks 17 Years
The Worcester program, which marked its 17th year as part of the JYC program, held its Appreciation Day at the Worcester County Courthouse on Friday, Aug. 16.
Following an introduction from Hon. Michael G. Allard-Madaus, associate justice of the Worcester District Court, MBA President Damian J. Turco praised the students for their accomplishments and thanked the judges, members of court staff and program administrators for their support this year.
Additional event speakers included Wu, the MBF president; Albert Muñoz, LCSW, School Adjustment Counselor, Shrewsbury High School (a former participant in the program); and Worcester JYC Coordinators Akosua Agyepong (a former participant in the program) and Luke Rosseel.
During the six-week program in Worcester, students took part in a Mock Trial, and visited and worked in various court departments overseen by court employees who mentored the students throughout the summer. Worcester students had placements at the Worcester Superior Court Judge’s Lobby, Worcester District Court Judge’s Lobby, Worcester Housing Court Judge’s Lobby, Worcester District Court Probation, Worcester Probate and Family Court Clerk’s Office and Worcester Superior Court Clerk’s Office. They also engaged in discussions with guest speakers about various legal issues and topics.
Worcester students also had the opportunity to take part in a shadow day with one of seven judges: Hon. Jennifer Ginsburg, Hon. James (Gavin) Reardon, Hon. David Despotopulos, Hon. Daniel Wrenn, Hon. Karin Bell and Hon. Valerie Yarashus.
Congratulations to this year’s Worcester JYC graduates: Fantasia Acheampong, Irene Amoako, Amrit Boyal, Sienna Glickman, Elina Huffman, Nephtali Kipa Makengo, Jeshua Maldonado, Kanchan Pothireddy, Stacey Twum-Barimah and Clare Vasquez De La Cruz!
In addition to the judges and program administrators mentioned above, the MBA would like to thank SJC Chief Justice Kimberly Budd for continuing to champion this JYC program, with support from Jennifer Donahue, Vanessa Scott, Erika Gully-Santiago and Ellen Coyne from the SJC's Public Information Office. Thank you also to Patricia Santamaria from the Springfield District Court, WNE University School of Law Dean Zelda Harris, MBF Executive Director Susannah Thomas and MBF Development Director Allie Ford, and MBA Director of Public and Community Services Elizabeth O'Neil, with support from Keith West.