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JUST AS I AM YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 465411418 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Small ($100K-$1M) · jaiayouth.org
revenue
$284K
expenses
$580K
net assets
$18K
employees
6
volunteers
25
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

JAIA'S MISSION IS TO PARTNER AND CO-CREATE WITH YOUTH IN ORDER TO PROMOTE MINDFUL, HEALTHY, AND SAFE COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRANSORMATIVE PERSONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

Just As I Am Youth Empowerment Inc (JAIA) partners with youth aged 16 to 21 to promote mental well-being, self-awareness, and leadership development. Based in Brooklyn, NY, the organization offers transformative personal growth programs grounded in mindfulness, emotional literacy, and ethical decision-making. JAIA's youth-led initiatives support participants in becoming leaders within their schools and communities.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Empowerment Workshops
Youth-facilitated workshops delivered in schools and community spaces to promote intergenerational understanding and emotional wellness education.
Healthy Minds Healthy Vibes
Arts-based mental wellness internship and workshop series that integrates emotional literacy, creative expression, and leadership development in a supportive community setting.
Mindful Leaders Institute
A three-tiered leadership pathway where youth build self-awareness, practice social-emotional learning, and lead community projects through coaching and structured support.
Peer Educator Training Program
Trains advanced youth to co-facilitate programs, lead advocacy initiatives, and support research and communication efforts, building employable skills and leadership experience.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 3 activities
    • Peer educator and youth employment programs
      Operates a peer educator training program that prepares youth to co-facilitate programs, support cohort development, and lead research, communication, and advocacy efforts while building employable skills and leadership experience. Includes the Summer Youth Employment Program and 270 hours of leadership development programming.
    • Youth leadership and personal development programs
      Offers a three-tiered personal development and leadership program that includes mentorship and hands-on experience to help youth build self-awareness, community leadership skills, and readiness for academic and professional opportunities. Includes stipends, retreats, and transformational programming.
    • Youth-led program development and facilitation
      Builds youth capacity to independently lead, create, and facilitate programs through initiatives such as the Youth Leadership Council, Community Empowerment Workshops, and a full-year personal development program developed with youth input via the Mindful Leaders Institute.
  • Creative Arts Therapy Programs 1 activity
    • Art-based mental wellness and emotional literacy programming
      Runs an art-based mental wellness internship and workshop series that integrates emotional literacy, creative expression, and leadership development in a supportive community setting. Delivers youth-facilitated learning workshops in schools, family settings, and community spaces to promote intergenerational understanding and disseminate emotional wellness education.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$284K
Contributions & grants$276K97%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$9K
expenses
Total expenses$580K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$367K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$64K
Cash$64K
Investments$0
Liabilities$47K
Net assets$18K
Liquid reserves1.3 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -45.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
GENA JEFFERSON CEO & PRESIDENT 40 $144K
board members · 4
  • JEFFREY P COLEMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • NADIRA RAMCHARAN — BOARD TREASURER
  • SALLY HIPSCHER — BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
  • VERONICA ROSARIO — BOARD SECRETARY
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Partner — Veronica Rosario volunteers with organizations focused on youth empowerment as a member of this organization.
  • East Midwood Jewish Center Partner — Engages in interfaith collaboration through a joint committee with Our Lady of Refuge Church.
  • Gena Jefferson Partner — Founder and CEO of JUST AS I AM YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INC, formerly a NYC educator, social worker, and interfaith minister.
  • New York City Public School system Partner — Longstanding partnership through which JAIA delivers programs and supports youth development.
  • Our Lady of Refuge Church Partner — Engages in interfaith collaboration through a joint committee with East Midwood Jewish Center.
  • Youth Partner — Youth are engaged as partners in co-creating programs and initiatives.
  • city agencies Partner — Collaborates with city agencies to expand youth leadership and personal development initiatives.
  • community organizations Partner — Collaborates with JAIA to deliver youth programs
  • nonprofits Partner — Collaborates with JAIA to deliver youth programs
  • research institutions Partner — Partners with research institutions to support and evaluate youth development programs.
  • schools Partner — Collaborates with JAIA to deliver youth programs
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Arts-Based Social-Emotional Learning
    methodology: arts-based_wellness
    By integrating arts-based practices with social-emotional learning, the organization enhances emotional awareness, reduces stress, and builds connection because creative expression provides accessible, non-clinical pathways to wellness and teamwork.
  • Inner Transformation Drives Community Change
    methodology: inner-transformation-to-community-change
    By supporting individual emotional, moral, and psychological growth in youth, the organization generates broader community impact because personal development fosters responsible, connected, and purpose-driven civic engagement.
  • Youth Co-Creation Model
    methodology: co-creation_with_youth
    By involving youth as active partners in designing and shaping programs, the organization fosters leadership, personal growth, and community well-being because participatory engagement builds ownership, trust, and authentic development.
  • Youth-Led, Adult-Guided Development
    methodology: youth-led_adult-guided
    By balancing youth leadership with structured adult mentorship grounded in mental health literacy, mindfulness, and ethical decision-making, the organization supports sustainable youth growth because it empowers agency while providing developmental scaffolding.