JOLT: Juvenile Options for Lifelong Transitions
Since its inception in 2009, JOLT has served more than 250 youth with a history of incarceration and/or gang involvement.
While incarcerated, Second Chance counselors provide intensive rehabilitation counseling and group cognitive behavior training classes to youth offenders, ages 16-21, at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facilities’ Youth Offender Unit and at the Kearny Mesa Girls Rehabilitation Facility.
Individual rehabilitation counseling, group classes and community support focus on addressing each individual's behaviors - such as criminal thinking, substance abuse and gang involvement, and each individual’s needs - such as recovery from trauma associated with abuse and violence, improved reading and writing skills, and mental health services.
After release, JOLT youth have the opportunity to come to Second Chance for hands-on job training and life skills education. The following programs offer paid stipends and provide practical skills and experience that can lead to full-time employment.
The Urban Garden Program
The Urban Garden Program teaches JOLT participants how to plan and manage an urban garden.
Youth are given the opportunity to gain skills in urban agriculture, acquire valuable work experience and progress academically. During the 12-week program, youth learn about:
- Planting, maintaining and harvesting
- Soil awareness
- Irrigation
- Appropriate garden tools
- How fresh produce tastes
- Selling fresh produce
- Marketing
- Teamwork
Visit our produce stand at the Little Italy Farmer’s Market (Saturdays, Date St. and India St., 8am – 2pm) or at the People’s Produce Project (Market St. Trolley Station, Fridays 3pm-7pm).
Back Country Land Trust Partnership
In partnership with Back Country Land Trust, Second Chance JOLT program staff and youth participants are making improvements at Wright’s Field Preserve in Alpine. Wright’s Field Preserve constitutes the uppermost headwaters of Chocolate Creek, a perennial stream that flows directly into El Capitan Reservoir. El Capitan Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the City of San Diego’s public water system.
The project goals include extensive fieldwork to improve the ecological habitat and recreational values of Wright’s Field Preserve, and subsequently, the larger Alpine/El Capitan watershed catchment area. The project also fosters personal and community connections both locally and regionally. Participants gain valuable knowledge concerning land management, environmental issues and watershed protection as well as develop on-the-job skills related to natural resource/open space management and habitat restoration.
Second Chance Plumbing Project
Second Chance’s Plumbing Project is a partnership with the Andrew Chapman Mentoring Program and Bill Howe Plumbing. During the eight-week project, seven young adults, ages 18 to 21, are provided an introduction to the plumbing industry. Each youth works side by side with a Bill Howe Plumbing Technician three days a week in the field learning the hands-on skills of the industry. Interns also spend two days a week in the classroom focusing on soft skills, academic instruction, plumbing-related occupational skills, career exploration, and leadership activities.
If you would like to learn more about the Urban Garden Program, the Back County Land Trust Partnership, or the Plumbing Project, contact Ricky Valdez, 619-839-0945 or email.
JOLT is made possible by grants and other community support. If you would like to donate to JOLT, contact Trisha Gooch, 619-839-0950 or email.