http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2012/02/06/146419053/a-glimpse-behind-bars-juveniles-in-the-justice-system

1 ½ lbs of skinless Mahi-Mahi fillets

1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus extra for preparing grill

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)

2 tablespoons orange juice (freshly squeezed preferred)

1 tablespoon JIFF’s Pineapple Chipotle Lime Seasoning

1/8 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves

Extra cilantro and lime wedges for garnish

Salt and pepper

Marinade: Combine vinegar, lime juice, orange juice, JIFF Seasoning and cilantro leaves in a small mixing bowl. Slowly whisk the Canola oil into the mixture until well blended. Place Mahi-Mahi in a flat dish or one gallon zip top bag. Pour entire mixture over Mahi-Mahi and allow to marinate for 20-30 min turning once or twice.

On the Grill: Clean grill grates and brush with vegetable oil. Preheat grill to high. Remove fillets from marinade and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill fillets over direct heat 4-6 minutes until lightly golden on bottom and releases easily from grill. Flip fillets and repeat above process until fillets are just cooked through, lightly golden, opaque at the center, flake easily, but are still moist.  (Internal temperature of 140 — try not to overcook). Remove from heat let stand 5 min then serve. If desired, garnished with extra cilantro leaves and lime wedges.

In the Broiler: Preheat the broiler to high set rack 4”-6” below heating element. Remove fillets from marinade and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Place fillets in a broiler pan, and broil, turning them once with a spatula, until the filets are just cooked through, lightly golden, opaque at the center, flake easily, but are still moist about 4-6 minutes per side. (Internal temperature of 140 degrees — try not to overcook)

Remove from heat let stand 5 min then serve. If desired, garnished with extra cilantro leaves and lime wedges.

JIFF chicken pineapple rice salad

Serves 4

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon JIFF pineapple chipotle lime seasoning

1 cup rice

1 (16 oz) can pineapple tidbits, drained, juice reserved

2 ½ cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon honey

Juice from 1 lime

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon JIFF chipotle lime seasoning

2 green onions, sliced

2 ribs celery, sliced

¼ cup almonds slivers or slices, toasted

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Brush chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with JIFF seasoning. Place chicken on baking sheet and bake at 350° until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Cool chicken completely. Cut into ½ inch chunks.

In a medium saucepan, add ½ cup of reserved pineapple juice, chicken broth and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes until rice is cooked. Remove lid, fluff rice with fork and chill.

In a small bowl, whisk honey, lime juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon JIFF seasoning. Mix dressing with chilled rice. Add cooked chicken, green onions, celery, pineapple and almonds to rice mixture and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with cilantro. Serve chilled.

Overview video including our programs; affects on youth and recidivism; and an inside view of youth transformation. Time 4:47. Video produced by Dean Film and Video www.deanhd.com

Click here to view the video.

Groundbreaking coverage for new JIFF facility (now completed). Time 2:25

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Ending the Violence. JIFF participants speak about their experience. Time 2:25

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How JIFF is helping children without hope. The different programs at JIFF and how they are helping to reduce recidivism among juvenile offenders. Time 11:11

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Channel 5 with Joe Birch. The price of crime and how JIFF is working to solve it. Time 2:33

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Jeremy Park, Director of Communications for the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club facilitated the donation.

This donation goes to help the mentors and teachers at JIFF provide GED training, mentoring, life-skills, hope and the chance to spend time as a kid to court-referred youth from Memphis.

Rick Carr, with a background in corrections ministry, joined MSYFC in August 2000. At the time, Memphis had extremely high crime and juvenile recidivism was at an all-time high.

Most local programs were either therapeutic or preventive and little attention was being given to intervention. JIFF began targeting smaller numbers of youth so that more time and energy could be devoted to each child and his/her family.  Carr convinced Juvenile Court to refer young offenders to the program.  With more emphasis on intervention, JIFF became the focus of the organization, and the board began to recognize that JIFF did not fit the YFC model.

Separation from YFC — With unanimous board support, JIFF was formally launched as a separate entity in March 2003.

Collaborative Program Model — To address and reduce juvenile crime and violence in the Mid-South and increase its impact, JIFF entered into a formal collaborative agreement with Memphis Leadership Foundation (MLF), Urban Youth Initiative (UYI) and secondary partners: Christian Psychological Center, Youth Villages, Christ Community Health Services, Church Health Center and Agape Family Services. The goal was and is to work with offenders that are referred by Juvenile Court with the objective of assisting them in reducing recidivism, and facilitating their reentry and planning for the future.

Target 1000 Program — With a collaboration in place and a formal agreement with the Juvenile Court, Target 1000 was developed by UYI as the initiative to reduce recidivism, and facilitate their reentry and planning for the future. The three and a half year initiative ended in December 2007. Initial data from Target 1000 indicates resounding success. Nationally, approximately 67.5% of adults who leave the justice system re-enter within three years of their release. Although there are no similar, reliable statistics on the juveniles who recidivate, industry experts believe the juvenile rate is between 65 and 85%. In Target 1000, the recidivism rate was estimated at less than 35% for the two years. Over the long haul, expectations are that the rate will not exceed 40%. These estimates bear serious witness to the success of the model.

Building — With JIFF’s new mission — including “Learn to Earn” culinary and GED programs — the vision for a specialized facility took root. JIFF purchased the Abe Scharff building from the YMCA. After a successful building campaign and subsequent renovation, the new JIFF facility opened in 2009. With a commercial kitchen, full gymnasium, workout rooms and offices, JIFF is able to work with about 200 youth each year. With increased capacity, JIFF is poised to help up to 600 youth each year.

Going Forward — JIFF operates as an urban ministry, providing space, staff and mentors for youth to be trained, but also just to hang out. JIFF works with youth in five key areas:  Head (Academic Health), Heart (Spiritual Health), Health (Mental/Physical), Home (Relational Health), Hire-ability (Employment Health), and Hobbies and Other Interests (Social Health).  JIFF offers youth education and job skills, as well as the love of Christ, so they have the best of both worlds.