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Youth Justice

Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

In times of crisis we find strength in our neighbors—in local violence interrupters—who are leading the movement to grow public safety and communal healing.

We are proud to announce $2.5M in grants to 55 organizations through our Invest in Youth initiative in 2021, determined for the first time in partnership with our new council of youth advisors. 

Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

We spoke with Jacquel Clemons Moore, Interim Executive Director at Kings Against Violence Initiative, Inc. (KAVI), an organization that connects with youth of color in various settings—at their schools, in their communities, and in hospitals—as part of a holistic approach to violence intervention that begins and ends with recognizing their humanity.

Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

To celebrate this year's Black Philanthropy Month, we reached out to several Black leaders in our nonprofit community to learn about what inspires their work, local Black-led organizations they admire, and how the organizations they lead are working to achieve equity in our communities.

Michelina Ferrara
Coordinator, Brooklyn Youth Fellowship

Last weekend, 70 youth came together for the second annual Youth Unite! Conference at the YWCA in Brooklyn. With workshops, an open mic, a community dinner, and more, it was a powerful event that left participants feeling unified in their shared goals.

 

In a surprise announcement this week the Mayor indicated that the projected 10-year timeline to closer Rikers Island may be shortened as he and newly appointed City Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced a public review process of four alternate detention facility sites near local courthouses. 

Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

Today, together with criminal justice advocates across New York State, we are celebrating a landmark reform victory: the State Legislature has passed legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18-years-old. 

All across New York City, criminal justice advocates and organizers are celebrating one of the biggest victories in recent memory: the Mayor’s announcement of a plan to close Rikers Island by 2027.

Today, with the support of 19 other private, public and community foundations, we are sending a letter to New York elected officials urging them to Raise the Age of criminal responsibility in our state. 

Anne Gregory, Phd
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University

Restorative approaches to conflict have a long history rooted in cultural healing of indigenous communities. Yet, the use of restorative approaches to building community and repairing harm is relatively new in U.S. schools. Educators across the nation have many unanswered questions about best practices for introducing restorative justice (RJ) to their communities, building sustained engagement with school discipline reform, and eradicating disparities in exclusionary school discipline.

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