Kasserian ingera is the traditional greeting of the East African Masai which translates: “So, how are the children?” The belief among the Masai is that if the children are well, then so, too, is the health and prosperity of society as a whole.

New York State spends over $157 million annually to incarcerate juveniles, but only $1 million annually for transitional services for some of these same young people post-release. The results? Three out of four are re-arrested within 3 years—a pattern which is repeated throughout all levels of state criminal justice supervision for both young people and adults.

New York State has the fifth largest prison and jail population in the United States.   In Central New York, the "Elmira Hub" of the Department of Correctional Services contains more maximum security prisons than any other hub in New York State. In Tompkins County, there is a limited secure/maximum security juvenile detention center, jail, and/or state prison on every major thoroughfare in and out of the city of Ithaca, the county seat.  

While Ithaca is home to well known colleges and universities, organic farmers, and green builders; and, has been highlighted as a model of economic growth for Central and Upstate New York, there remains a large divide between the educated and under-educated, the well-to-do and "the struggling," and those who have a voice in setting and executing criminal justice and environmental policies and those impacted by such policies.

Southern Tier Advocacy & Mitigation Project, Incorporated challenges criminalization, exploitation, incarceration, and pollution by encouraging self-respect, empowerment, leadership, and self-determination among young people, adults, and families most affected by criminal justice and environmental policies which disregard individual needs, erode community assets, and undermine planet security.