Judge Hicks
Hinds County Youth Court Judge Carlyn M. Hicks today announced the launch of the Youth Diversion & Enrichment Center, a trauma-informed, youth-focused hub designed to steer justice-involved and at-risk young people toward education, wellness, and workforce success. The Center is located inside the Jackson Medical Mall and will host an Open House & Ribbon Cutting event on Wednesday, October 1st at 2:00 p.m.
“The Youth Diversion & Enrichment Center is about opportunity and accountability—a place where young people can reset, skill-up, and be seen for their strengths,” said Judge Hicks. “We are aligning the Court, community partners, as well as youth and families to deliver the supports that help youth change course and thrive.”
Curated by the the Hinds County Children’s Coalition (HCCC), the Center integrates a wide array of wraparound programs and services to include cognitive-behavioral nontraditional therapy, skill-building, social enterprise development, mentoring, tutoring and literacy support, ACT, SAT, and GED Test prep, a certified GED Testing Site, truancy prevention supports, and workforce development. The space includes, but is not limited to:
• Innovation Suite & Enterprise Lab: entrepreneurship coaching, STEAM activities, tools, and career exploration
• Creative Lab & Sound Booth: content creation, podcasting, music production, and digital storytelling
• Incentive Zone: positive-reinforcement rewards tied to goals and development milestones
• Wraparound and Wellness Suites: mental-health services and resources, peer support, and community resource navigation
• Academic Recovery Suite: tutoring, a certified GED Testing center, computer training lab, and reading/writing labs
“Too often, youth meet our systems at their hardest moments,” said Judge Hicks. “This Center meets them with coaching, consistency, commitment, opportunity, supports, and real-world skills so they can earn credentials, build confidence, and contribute to their communities.”
Program Highlights
• Diversion Pathways: Court-connected and voluntary tracks featuring individualized action plans, parent cafés, and family engagement programs and activities.
• Workforce & Entrepreneurship: resume and interview labs, industry guest mentors, and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Law Literacy and Life-Skills: Law Literacy workshops and Trainings, Court & Community Engagement dialogues, life-skills training and support, and decision-making workshops.
• Wellness & Resilience: trauma-informed groups, CBT-based life-coaching, and direct access to local mental-health providers.
• Youth-Driven Life-Planning: strengths-based measures tracking progress, school & social engagement, goal completion, and recidivism reduction for Justice-involved youth.
Community Invitation: Open House & Ribbon Cutting
When: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Jackson Medical Mall (exact suite details and directions provided upon RSVP)
To RSVP, email hindscountychildrenscoalition@
Attendees will tour the Center, meet volunteers and program leads, and learn about opportunities to partner and volunteer, if interested. Businesses, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations are invited to collaborate on internship pipelines and on-site workshops. For partnership opportunities, please contact Director Cassandra Wilson at the email provided above.