TJJD News & Announcements

DALLAS, Texas –  Youth at Cottrell took the lead in selecting the new look for their dorm rooms and living areas. “The youth gathered together and discussed themes in which would be an inspiration, leisure activity, or a future goal to help guide them,” said Cottrell Superintendent Marketa Johnson. The result: An homage to football, basketball and living right. The youths painted the term “SWAG” on the wall in a crisp, graphic design and spelled out what it stands for -- Success, Willpower, Attitude, Goals. They stenciled basketball players and hoops on another wall, which now declares “Shoot for Your Goals!” Staff at Cottrell used the home improvement exercise to engage the youth in the Youth in Custody Practice Model (YICPM) that sets new goals for TJJD to “soften the environment” for kids in custody, thus creating a more productive living and learning setting, Johnson said. The teens took their task to heart, painting the sports iconography and even replic...

DALLAS, Texas – Advisory Councils (DYRAC) A.R.T. Program for youth at Cottrell House. A.R.T. stands for Assessing Real Talent. The program is meant to teach youth how to improve their talents as well as give them resources to pull from for future use. Wachelle Williams, DYRAC Chairperson stated, “Many of the youth at Cottrell House are so talented in music, cooking, sports and many other areas. I want to make sure that they have resources and contacts to help them pursue their talents.” With that goal in mind, DYRAC applied for and received a grant from the State Volunteer Resource Council to help youth reach their potential in the A.R.T. Program. Cherika (Che) Roundtree of Strictly DFW Radio is an active member of DYRAC. She also mentors youth at Cottrell House and knows firsthand of the talent that many youth have. Che stated, “Youth have talents that need to be guided. I want to help youth that are interested in the music business.” Lavator (Ms. T) Jefferson, Artist Manager, a...