No amount of data collected can quantify the actual impact of a program. So we pay attention. We can’t predict how our workshops will affect any one individual, especially a member of the community whose many roles include fatherhood. Many times the roles are reversed. Children do not miss a father they never knew, but when a father misses his child, we take note. The Moment We like to say that we are more than just a grassroots organization, so on a beautiful August day we were boots on the ground, in the middle of South Yonkers with our workout gear on. For about an hour we were fully engaged in a fun interactive workout session with community members and some of our volunteers, when we noticed one of the volunteers staying to himself. We didn’t know it then, but he was struggling emotionally with a personal issue. A day later, he contacted his brother, part of the 914united team, “what’s up bro, you aight?” “Not really. I wanted to share something I was going through internally yesterday at the workout session. I was working out with one of the younger kids and it hit me…” “What?” “How much I miss my son.” The Journey We love it when volunteers come out and support our programs. Many people support the movement, but participation in our activities outside the office is not a common occurrence. One Volunteer, who is related to our founder, is always willing to step up and support the movement. He has been by our side since 914United was a thought, and because our founder is a sibling and his mentor, he continues to stay on the positive path he has chosen. Some team members call him family, and all team members love and respect his support. He

In our work, we frequently encounter unexpected situations. Many of our participants can’t turn to their own families for support, so they come to us. They yearn for a safe space like our office, not seeking advice, but for a place to vent. The Leader’s Lab is that space, so when a mother and son do not see eye to eye, our doors are open, and in most cases, that’s all they need. The Moment This summer has had its way with the 914United team at the Leader’s Lab. We learned fast that the heat gave us no excuse not to do our jobs, though, because any mission that’s worthy will require a bit of sacrifice and suffering along the way. On this day in particular, we are getting ready to run a training workshop with a couple of participants. As two team members discuss the rest of the week’s schedule in the conference room, one of the participants walks in, shuts the door behind him, and starts crying. “My mother’s in the hospital, it’s all my fault.” The Journey We met the young man inside the Westchester County Jail a few years back. Until that moment, the criminal-legal system was his second home. Still a teenager, he had been  in and out of juvenile detention centers several times since he was thirteen. Now graduating to the County, his path to State prison was imminent. When he finally got to know us, we were able to land on his radar. The process got started when he was released; trust was built before his release, and then the real work began. Since then, the progress that this young man has made  is too profound to put into words. Yet, for many people not directly connected to the work, it’s difficult to