Youth Justice Network
Rev. Bernard Shepherd serves as the Program Director at the Youth Justice Network since December 2020, overseeing Family Matters, a program that supports parents of youth navigating the delinquency process in Manhattan Family Court. Previous roles include Senior Case Manager focused on father engagement, Job Developer facilitating employment opportunities for youth, and founder and Executive Director of Good Samaritans Men’s Outreach Ministry, implementing Life Skills Training for young men at Rikers Island. Rev. Shepherd has experience in advocacy and support services for youth reentry through Friends of Island Academy and served as a certified youth chaplain, providing pastoral care. Additional roles include Lead Facilitator for therapeutic programs at Rikers Island and positions in credit and collections at prominent firms like Bloomberg and IPG. Rev. Bernard Shepherd holds a degree from Wilberforce University.
Youth Justice Network
Youth Justice Network was founded in 1990, at the alternative high school on Rikers Island, to address the disproportionate incarceration of young people of color and support them as they returned home. YJN’s mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build a more equitable justice system. For more than 30 years, YJN has supported young people whose lives intersect with NYC jails and justice systems by providing them with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead.