Rayshal DeRiggs’ journey with CASES started as a young participant in our Education, Career & Enrichment (ECE) programs. She went on to serve as a Youth Alumni Navigator, mentoring others following a similar path. Today, she’s a full-time Court Compliance Specialist on our Court Services team. We’re proud to celebrate Rayshal and the meaningful impact she continues to make every day.
Beginnings as a Youth Participant
Rayshal started out at CASES as a participant in the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, where she engaged in education and employment services, learning core skills and competencies to prepare young her for the workforce. One of the most memorable parts of the program for Rayshal was working with her teacher, Samantha Robles, JAG’s Senior Career Mentor. Rayshal recalls that Samantha was always there when she needed her and that she motivated Rayshal to give back to her own community through mentorship: “Miss Samantha never gives up, you know, and I feel like she does more than her job. She goes above and beyond for participants, and I just look up to her so much because I want to be more like her.”
Naturally, when CASES launched our Youth Alumni Navigator project—an opportunity for ECE graduates to earn a wage as peer leaders and advocates for current youth participants—Rayshal was perfect for the position. When she graduated from JAG, it just seemed like the right next step. “Graduating from that program just kind of opened my eyes,” Rayshal says. “It made me realize that a lot of young people around my age need help, and if I can be the one to help them, that would mean a lot.”
Giving Back Through Mentorship
The concept of a Youth Alumni Navigator was created at CASES to better address young people’s needs with the guidance of someone who has been through similar struggles, someone who intimately understands their experience and can give them advice and support. As ECE graduates, the Alumni Navigators model success for current participants. Even after graduating, they still relate to current participants as peers, making them better able to get feedback from youth about how to make the program better and truly align services with participants’ wants and needs. This philosophy echoes through Rayshal’s own experience connecting with ECE youth. “Since we’re in the same age bracket, it will be easier for us to have a conversation about their needs,” Rayshal reflects. “We can ask them ‘What do you need? How can we help you be better in terms of giving back to the community?’”
A great example of an activity that Rayshal developed, alongside her fellow Navigator Naomi, was the Women’s Health Event. Held once at our office in Central Harlem and again at our Downtown Brooklyn site, the Women’s Health Event created a space exclusively for female participants to connect in a majority male program. During the event, Rayshal and Naomi presented educational information on menstrual health, sexual health, nutrition, and emotional well-being. After the presentation, the participants had the opportunity to ask questions and delve into deeper conversation about the topics presented. Last but not least, participants completed a vision board activity to express their goals and wishes for the future through arts and crafts. Being able to connect with the young women over shared experiences really resonated with Rayshal. She recalls, “I was able to relate to them. I spoke to some of the girls who were going through certain issues and was reminding them that I’ve been there. I understand what you’re going through.”
From Mentorship to the Courts
Soon after the Youth Alumni Navigator project ended, Rayshal secured a position at CASES as a Court Compliance Specialist on the Court Services team. As a Court Compliance Specialist, Rayshal reports outcomes for people with open legal cases, documenting whether clients are meeting their requirements as determined by the judges. For example, if someone is mandated to a CASES alternative to incarceration program and they attend all of their meetings, Rayshal will record that they are compliant. Essentially, this role requires behind-the-scenes paperwork and phone calls that keep the court team running smoothly.
Rayshal’s favorite part of this role is that she knows when clients are progressing and when they might need another chance to improve. For example, when a client misses an appointment, they have a 21-day window to reschedule and show up. Instead of punishment, clients are treated as human beings with the capacity to grow. “At CASES we give every participant a chance to do and be better.”
What’s Next for Rayshal?
In the future, Rayshal hopes to be a lawyer who advocates for adolescents caught up in the criminal legal system. Her work as a Court Compliance Specialist is starting to expose her to that future; Rayshal now knows how to correspond with attorneys, navigate the courthouse, and how sentencing works. “I definitely feel like this position is helping me because it’s giving me exposure. It’s really opening my eyes.”
It’s been a joy to watch Rayshal grow at CASES—from a program participant to a valued member of our staff. We’re incredibly proud of all she’s accomplished and excited to see what’s next in her journey.