Youth Leadership and Recreation Programs

Osborne promotes positive youth development through a suite of programs that combine mentorship, civic engagement, and recreational activities for youth affected by a parent’s incarceration or involvement in the criminal legal system. Through support groups, after-school programs, and summer camps, Osborne ensures that children of incarcerated parents have access to the relationships and resources they need to thrive.

Located in New York City and Buffalo, Youth Experience Success (YES!) offers after-school and summer activities for youth ages 13–15. YES! provides a supportive peer community in which young people gain essential life skills, receive emotional support, and participate in enriching experiences. YES! participants build skills such as conflict resolution and meditation and explore their creativity through classes such as cooking, painting, and drumming, and through trips to cultural institutions. 

The Youth Action Council (YAC) and Buffalo Leaders are after-school programs in Brooklyn and Buffalo that engage young people ages 16–19. YAC provides participants with civic engagement and training as youth advocates, supporting young people who are navigating the challenge of having a currently or recently incarcerated parent to use their voices to create change. Participants learn about the legislative process, build storytelling skills to share their experiences, and mobilize others in their communities and elected officials through visits to City Hall and the State Capitol. Buffalo Leaders supports youth in planning for life after high school, with a focus on college and career readiness. Young leaders explore post-secondary pathways through college tours, workforce training programs, and other skill development opportunities.

Our Recreation program for youth ages 5–18 and their parents and caregivers offers enriching activities that build community and create memories for families experiencing incarceration of a loved one. Activities such as museum trips, bowling, pottery painting, ice skating, apple picking, cooking classes, and picnics strengthen family relationships and provide opportunities for families with shared experiences to bond and stay connected.