For more than 40 years, Avenues for Justice (AFJ) has supported youth in New York City, keeping them out of prison and providing them with court advocacy, tutoring and mentorship, mental health support and job training.During the past four decades we’ve seen it all – economic highs and lows, the changing faces of many NYC neighborhoods from gentrification, and generations of New Yorkers impacted by an unjust criminal justice system.
AFJ has known for years that young adultsneed tools, support, opportunities and access to fair representation to have a second chance at life, and AFJ provides all of those things.Each year, we serve more than 600 youthful offenders , and more than 95% of our graduates are never convicted of another crimeand remain on a pathway to their dreams.
Since March, when the city closed businesses and we were required to shelter-in-place, AFJ continues toMeet the Momentfor the youth in our program. Many of our youth faced unimaginable challenges before the pandemic. With the added challenge of a deadly virus, an economic downturn, a racial reckoning and an inability to share physical space with youth in person,AFJ took important action that works:
- Weserved more than 300 youthful offenderssince the pandemic began;
- Welaunched NEW jobs programs, equipping our participants to have training and certifications that will put them on a path for employment;
- Wemet essential needs, providing groceries and funds for utilities to youth and their families; and
- Weprovided laptops and cell phones to program participants, helping them remain connected to AFJ and their caring staff.
To continue this work, we need your help.Right now,New York needs programs like Avenues for Justice. AFJ has a proven track record of making a difference in the lives of youth in our City. It’s what we’ve done for the past 40 years, and we will continue to do so for the next 40 years to come.
