Our Stories
The success of the RFK Children’s Action Corps is rooted in the professionalism and dedication of our staff, and reflected in the stories of the youths whose lives they have impacted.
Brian Hancock: “A cause worth fighting for”
At 14, Brian Hancock found himself facing 20 years in prison. Raised by an alcoholic single mother, Brian found a family on the streets. “A gang was the only family that was available to me,” says the 30-year-old attorney, husband, and father of two today, “and the ‘family business’ was theft, violence, and drugs.”
When Brian was arrested for his involvement in a gang-related homicide, the prosecutor originally planned to try him as an adult. An attorney took his case and ensured that he would be tried as a juvenile. Instead of 20 years in prison, Brian spent two years at the Stephen B. Delaney School, a unit of the RFK Children’s Action Corps’ Springfield Secure Treatment Program, which helps troubled young men redirect themselves toward a more positive future.
“The fact that my attorney believed in me made me begin to believe in myself,” says Brian. “The staff at the Delaney School took that spark and fanned it into a flame. They looked past my presentation and saw my potential. Most important, they helped me to see my potential as well.”
After Brian was released from the Delaney School, he was placed in the care of foster parents. He attended high school and received full scholarships to both Wheaton College and Seton Hall Law School, graduating with honors from both programs. Today, in addition to practicing law, he is involved with New Jersey’s Division of Child Behavioral Health Services. In June, Brian received the “Embracing the Legacy” award from RFK Children’s Action Corps for embodying the values and vision of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. “Fifteen years ago, I sat in a detention center,” says Brian. “Now I help to make policy that affects the lives of children who come from that background.
I’m very grateful,” Brian continues. “Many kids who have been in trouble see themselves as a lost cause. The Delaney staff saw me as a cause worth fighting for."
