News  Lawrence Community Justice Support Center Hosts Open House to introduce services and resources to area residents

More than 70 people—including several center clients—walked through the halls of the Lawrence Community Justice Support Center (CJSC) during its annual Open House and engaged with individuals from local human services agencies last Thursday.

Members of the legal community, US State Senator Pavel Payano, and residents turned out for the event at the center, one of 18 across the state. The centers are credited for reducing recidivism by up to 36 percent among clients who attend.

Nearly a dozen agencies, including Massachusetts Trial Court departments, set up resource tables.

A center client, David, spoke about the help he receives at the center.

“They’re (center staff) a big help. I don’t know about email and .coms just coming out. I’m disabled and they have helped me with housing and filling out forms, and navigating me through the things that I need at this point in my life,” he said.

Another client, Jessica, said, “at first, I didn’t want to have anything to do with the center. If it weren’t for the staff, I wouldn’t be in the rooming house I am in today. They really helped me in a lot of ways. I would tell me who first come to the center to put their ego aside and do what’s best for you. Stop listening to what people are saying in the streets because the streets aren’t it.”

The Lawrence CJSC Open House is one of 18 events that are taking place as part of a Fall series of gatherings to introduce the local community to centers across the state.

The following are videos of the center’s program manager and a client, David.