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.