Program 5

Kid’s Law Academy

The Micro-Nonprofit Network Inc is committed to be a part of the social justice movement. Earlier this year the organization partnered with the Chesapeake Police Department to host several community conversations and events with diverse groups which included community leaders, women, children, black men, and police officers. Our platform was called “Beyond the March” it is a movement that requires strategic planning for a three-year time period.

The Kids Law Academy was birthed from one of the community conversations with children. TKLA was started to address some of the social justice issues that were sparked by the death of George Floyd, but from the perspective of kids who are often left out of the conversation and community forums. Our 12-week interactive program was designed by a kid’s advisory board, staff, community leader, and experts in law enforcement. The programs aim to introduce kids to the law enforcement profession and to allow kids a voice for advocacy and change within our communities. Our 12-week programs include some of the following sessions:

• Camera Ready (Gathering forensic evidence connected with a crime)
• Armed & Ready (Hands-on firearm safety training including a visit to the gun range)
• Black & Blue (Understanding policies that impact communities of colour)
• Morgue Visit (Understanding how human corpses are handled)
• Funding My Career (Preparing for college and my career)
• Ride Along (Experiencing what it’s like working as a police officer)
• Talk About It (A Kids radio program discussion about crimes in the area)
• Combat Training (Self-defense training)
• Judge That (Mock courtroom hearing)
• Inform the Community (The kids will create a public service announcement for the
  Community)
• Fact Check (Learning how to verify the accuracy of information)
• Your Voice Your Vote (Understanding the voting process from registration to casting a
• Ballot)
• Keep Calm – Yoga for kids
• Mental Fitness (Let’s talk about feelings)
• Pinning Ceremony