Credible Messengers
The Credible Messenger Program offers mentoring to youth involved in the Youth Justice System and those at risk in the community. Through structured and intentional relationships, mentors, often with similar backgrounds, including former justice-involved individuals, provide meaningful guidance. This program creates a powerful platform for youth engagement, amplifies community voices, and advocates for racial equity.
How It Works
- Respond to youth dysregulation, parent/child conflict, community violence, and other critical youth safety issues.
- Accepts referrals from the youth justice system and community sources like parents, schools and community agencies.
- Goal: Reduce recidivism and foster positive youth engagement through mentoring.
- Support before, during, and after youth justice system involvement.
The Credible Messenger movement
transforms justice through trust, empowerment, and
community-led safety, inspiring youth to envision positive futures.
Participating Organizations
-
414Life
David Sinclair, Outreach Supervisor 414LIFE
Comprehensive Injury Center
Medical College of Wisconsin
2153 N. MLK Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Cell: (414) 439-5525
[email protected] -
Milwaukee Community Crossroads
Fabiana Guzman, Advance Peace Strategy Manager
[email protected]
807 S. 14th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Phone: (414) 628-4405 -
Running Rebels
Rod Mitchell – [email protected]
225 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-264-8222 -
Westcare
Travis Landry – [email protected]
335 W. Wright Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-239-9359 -
Youth Advocate Program
Chaz Fortune – [email protected]
4465 N. Oakland Ave, Shorewood, WI 53211
414-335-7811 -
Glow 414
Mickell Dent, Founder - [email protected]
6333 N Green Bay Rd, Glendale, WI 53209
Phone: (414) 218-1001
Running Rebels
GLOW 414
WestCare
YAP
Credible Messengers In the News
Milwaukee youth launch powerful 'We Ain't on That' campaign to combat peer pressure
By: Gideon Verdin, TMJ 4
A coalition of local organizations is empowering Milwaukee teens to take a stand against negative influences through a new youth-led PSA campaign launching across the city.
The Credible Messenger group, which includes organizations like Running Rebels, has created a powerful new public service announcement titled "We Ain't On That," developed by young people for young people.
Project Community: Milwaukee's Credible Messengers
By: Joyce Garbaciak, WISN
Most every day in Milwaukee, we hear stories of young people involved in car robberies, gun violence and reckless driving.
These kids are on a destructive path. But a Milwaukee County program called Credible Messengers aims to help them turn their lives around. It pairs at-risk youth with mentors whose job it is – to care.
Credible Messengers Help At-Risk Youth
By: Tom Jenz, Shepherd Express
If the government wants to help at-risk youth impacted by the juvenile-justice system, it needs adult mentors who have experienced life on the streets. Enter the Credible Messengers program brought you by Milwaukee County. These adult mentors, called Credible Messengers, attempt to interrupt the cycle of violence in city communities and neighborhoods. They work with at-risk youth impacted by the juvenile-justice system and focus on positive goals and opportunities.
Program targeting at-risk youth to expand after successful pilot
By: Tahleel Mohieldin, TMJ4
Milwaukee County’s Credible Messenger Program is expanding its reach after helping dozens of young people in the city to move away from a path leading to incarceration or death, towards life and freedom.
In addition to including initiatives targeting young girls especially, the program will now include a new response team tasked with bringing in more structure and coordinating ways to tap into resources around things like medical care, food security, and housing faster.
Vaynesia Kendrick