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“Life is challenging right now with the violence around me, the pressure of homework, and my father’s illness at home; I feel overwhelmed and uncertain.”
★★★★★
“I find it extremely difficult to secure employment, and the positions I am qualified for do not provide the opportunity to return to my community and address the issues I helped create.”
★★★★★
“My family is in turmoil, and I feel isolated as my neighborhood offers no support; I desperately wish I knew where to turn for help during this painful time.”
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Our Logo

Young people encounter numerous challenges related to relationships, work, and education. The founder of Neighborhood Benches experienced the loss of his mother at the age of 9, which led him to carry the weight of family secrets and struggles that hindered his personal development and pushed him towards violence as a coping mechanism. The children represented in our logo embody the founder’s voice and vision, aiming to raise awareness about illnesses affecting families and fostering discussions around these issues and their associated decisions. The colors used symbolize awareness ribbons for various illnesses impacting our communities.

NEIGHBORHOOD BENCHES, Inc.

Transforming People to Strengthen Community
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Neighborhood Benches (NB) is a grassroots organization devoted to educating young people from communities of color on leadership and good practices that break cycles of youth incarceration and violence. NB is designed to enter communities that are difficult to engage, and overlooked. Our model further develop leaders and practitioners while driving down violence and incarceration.
NEIGHBORHOOD BENCHES is an expansion of the current mentoring initiatives. Our innovative way for demonstrating impact makes it easier for our students to focus on leadership roles, educational studies, and next steps.
Influence
Preparation
Educate
The phenomenon of experienced individuals returning to their communities is increasingly recognized as a vital component in efforts aimed at enhancing community safety. This group includes not only those who have been incarcerated but also individuals who have relocated due to various socio-economic challenges, including a pervasive sense of hopelessness regarding systemic change. Despite their expressed desire to contribute positively to their communities, these returning citizens often encounter significant barriers that hinder their reintegration and ability to serve as mentors. Neighborhood Benches: A Blueprint for Development Neighborhood Benches serves as an innovative model for addressing the needs of both returning citizens and at-risk youth. Our blueprint outlines a comprehensive approach for locating, recruiting, vetting, and training returning community members as mentors. By providing immediate support upon their return, Neighborhood Benches helps these individuals remain focused on personal development while preparing them for future employment opportunities. This proactive strategy not only empowers returning citizens but also enriches the community by fostering positive relationships between mentors and mentees.
MISSION ONE: MENTOR
Provide students with one-on-one time that will fuel their interest for learning from your practice.
MISSION TWO: PRACTICE
Putting the students to the test by providing opportunities to supervise others increases their understanding.
MISSION THREE: BUILD LEADERS
Challenge students innovative practices to locate and recruite other leaders through program design.

Success Stories:

"D-Hop" "Pop" "Blessing" "Primo". "Da Homeless Hero". "D-Wiz"
William M. Evans Founder & Strategic Leader
FOUNDER NOTE: "William believed that by returning to his community with a specific plan to recruit individuals and helping them understand the need for change, the role they could play in inspiring others and implementing solutions, great changes would come. Knowing these extraordinary individuals had a tremendous impact on how youth live today, on how their society functions, and on what values young people hold. They were the leaders who “made a difference,” and he wanted to recruit them to create long-lasting changes that would improve the quality of life and decrease rates of violence and incarceration. " The initiative led by Mr. Evans aimed to recruit mentors from challenging neighborhoods, which proved to be complex in terms of replication and management. By collaborating with committed leaders and documenting their journey, Neighborhood Benches was able to identify effective strategies for recruitment and mentorship development. This systematic approach allowed for a more organized method of managing mentor relationships, ultimately leading to better outcomes for both mentors and mentees.
PLANTING THE SEED The metaphor of “planting the seed” signifies the intention behind this work: to initiate positive change that can flourish over time. This structured approach emphasizes the importance of mentorship in community development, where mentors play a crucial role in guiding mentees through their learning journey.It involves an intentional and systematic practice where experienced individuals (mentors) support less experienced individuals (mentees) in their professional and personal growth. This relationship is not merely transactional; it is reciprocal, as both parties engage in knowledge sharing.
PhD Storytelling Project: Focus Group with Mentors
During this phase of development, mentees are tasked with engaging their communities actively. This engagement is critical for several reasons:

  • Reconnecting with Individuals Seeking Guidance
  • Strengthening Knowledge Through Reciprocity
  • Expanding Networks of Practitioners and Mentors
Each mentor faces the challenge of returning to a community they have previously impacted in some capacity and encouraged to identify ways they can strengthen existing initiatives or introduce new strategies that align with the community’s evolving needs. This cycle of giving back ensures that knowledge does not remain stagnant but rather circulates within the community, creating a dynamic environment where continuous learning and improvement are prioritized.

MEET THE DIRECTORS

Rena Brown, SIFI Director of Education
Daniel Osorio Director of Projects
"The work is never easy, this is why you need a team of directors that are committed to the mission and values the patience it takes for this model to work." -William M. Evans
Legendary Experience
Learning lessons from unique guys that are respected in their community.
Educational Quality
A lesson plan is not sustainable until a social worker acknowledge the benefits.
Neighborhood Benches is modeling and leading the discussion on program culture and community fidelity. Our appraoch gathers information about the hood-culture and the narratives shaping community. With that information we are changing the direction of the discussion by better understanding the people we want to service, mentor, support and learn from.
Returning Citizens
Immediate upon their release, they got to work sharing knowledge and ideas.
Consulting Youth
Real plans to change the narrative must include the young voices in the room.
Our community transformation is uniquely different. The ENTIRE COMMUNITY is important to this process.
William M. Evans is a Restorative Practitioner specializing in Strategic Urban Leadership Development (SULD). His work focuses on transforming individuals affected by systemic issues into role models who exhibit positive behavioral changes and contribute to community rebuilding. With expertise in identifying emerging leaders, William designs programs that foster social consciousness and empower communities.
Before founding Neighborhood Benches, William worked as the Program & Grants Assistant for the United Federation of Teachers within the NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative. He was also involved with Public Allies NY and served as Interim Operations Supervisor on Rikers Island for the Fortune Society’s Individualized Corrections Achievement Network (I-CAN), where he trained Discharge Planners. As a Bronx native, William is passionate about improving the lives of young people in his community. In 2019, he enrolled at Yeshiva University to pursue a PhD, aiming to enhance his practice further.
In 2019, William distinguished himself as one of 34 winners selected from a competitive pool of 2,574 applicants across 161 countries, earning recognition as an Echoing Green Fellow under Black Males Achievement. This accolade supports his efforts to scale his model and strengthen his leadership as the Founder & President of Neighborhood Benches. William leverages both his personal experiences and professional background to propel Neighborhood Benches forward in its mission.
William is a member of the Restorative Roots Collaborative
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