Project EmPOWER: Officer Screen

Project EmPOWER: Bridging Generations, Creating Bonds

The Transformative Vision of Youth, Police, and Trust

 

Project EmPOWER — an innovative initiative launched by United Way of Broward County with a generous grant from FPL and its NextEra Energy Foundation — provides positive team-building interactions and builds long-term trust and rapport between law enforcement officers and young people from ages 10 to 17.

“Being a part of Project EmPOWER has been an eye-opening experience for our officers. The collaboration between law enforcement and our community has shown us the positive change we can achieve together,” says Officer Maurice Screen of the Lauderhill Police Department.

“I’ve seen firsthand how our efforts are building a stronger community. The trust we’ve developed with young people has been incredible. Together, we are creating a fun, supportive, and meaningful environment for everyone involved.”

For many young people, the first encounter with anything justice-related — whether in school, neighborhoods, or social services — is through law-enforcement agencies.

Since its launch in Broward County in 2021, Project EmPOWER is creating a lasting impact on young people’s perceptions through positive interactions with police officers:

  • connecting approximately 800 law enforcement officers with thousands of young people across Broward County
  • engaging 40 participating schools and youth-serving organizations
  • hosting over 200 community events bringing together youth, law enforcement, and community members

Click here to read how Project EmPOWER is changing our community.