Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley on Feb. 25 delivered thousands of dollars in seized drug money to two Boston non-profit groups that help the city’s Latino youth stay away from drugs, gangs, and risky behavior.
As part of his annual Asset Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program, Conley visited Casa Nueva Vida in Jamaica Plain to present youth workers with $3,000 representing assets seized during Suffolk County narcotics trafficking prosecutions. Conley has delivered similar awards to about half a dozen nonprofits so far this year, funding safe, healthy activities for kids and teens from all walks of life.
Casa Nueva Vida strives to help homeless families out of poverty by providing shelter and services. The $3,000 grant will allow the group to expand its computer skills training for homeless at-risk teens in order to open up greater career opportunities for the youths.
Groups across Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop will split about $50,000 in cash awards this year at no cost to taxpayers: every cent comes from assets seized during drug trafficking prosecutions. State auditors last year reviewed the process in Suffolk County and gave it high marks for turning “the profits of crime into something positive for the community” while carefully documenting all forfeiture-related income and expenditures.
The annual grant process begins in the summer, with application forms available on the Suffolk DA’s website at suffolkdistrictattorney.com. Awards are typically distributed in the winter.
Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley (third from left) delivers a check for $3,000 in seized drug money to staff at Casa Nueva Vida in Jamaica Plain, supporting a program that teaches computer skills to homeless and at-risk teens. With Conley are (from left to right) IT Support and Computer Instructor Emilio Ortiz, Development Associate Kathy Woerner, President and CEO Manuel Duran, Housing Case Manager Julia Guerrero and Family Case Manager Zaida Estremera. (Courtesy Photo)