Collective Action for Youth expands Credible Messengers program with ARPA funds; organizers report zero juvenile-probation reoffenses among participants

Collective Action for Youth presented its Credible Messengers program to a Houston City Council committee, outlining the program model, partners, funding and early results, and several program participants spoke during public comment about how the program affected their lives.

Tiffany Echeverria, a Collective Action for Youth staff member, said the nonprofit began training with the CM3 Credible Messengers Mentoring Movement in spring 2021, entered a planning phase after receiving notice to proceed in November 2023, and started drawing funds in September 2024. She said the program initially received a $500,000 pilot allocation and later secured an additional $2,000,000 expansion: “$1,500,000 dedicated to the credible messengers program [and] $500,000 dedicated to the community violence interruption piece,” paid through ARPA dollars administered by the health department. Echeverria said the grant covers one year with an…