Avenues for Justice, Inc.

In 2023, Avenues for Justice (AFJ) launched our inaugural internship placement of 8-week paid internships with two cohorts in the spring and fall. Since last year, we have placed 63 Participants in internships—empowering them with meaningful work experiences and professional development. This week, we want to highlight the continued enhancement of our job training program. AFJ’s paid internship program now has a mandatory 8-day job readiness workshop which Participants must attend to be placed at a host site. Topics focus on internship expectations, effective communication skills, cover letter and resume writing, mock interviews with commonly asked questions, and workplace etiquette. A community manager, from AFJ’s corporate partner JPMorgan Chase, taught Participants financial literacy with a focus on budgeting, bank accounts, and money goals. During one of the workshops, members of the FDNY spoke to Participants about career opportunities within the fire department. One of the firefighters shared his personal journey having been arrested as a teenager and dropping out of school. His story resonated with our Participants as he refused to let those setbacks define his future and recounted his path to stability. He explained how he took several city job exams before finding his calling with the FDNY, where he has proudly served ever since. AFJ’s Job Developer, Shantel, praised the 14 Participants for completing the 8-day curriculum which prepared them for placements in industries such as hospitality, food and beverage, fitness, and technology. Shantel understands that “everyone’s journey to becoming employment ready is different, but we all agreed as a group that time management is critical.” If you are a local business owner interested in partnering with Avenues for Justice for internship placements for our Participants, please email AFJ’s Job Developer Shantel at sbrooks@avenuesforjustice.org. https://lnkd.in/eXGwqAkE

This past Monday, September 30th, we welcomed over seventy friends and guests to the 14th annual The Baer Faxt Invitational, our charity golf tournament benefiting Avenues for Justice, Inc., sponsored by Gagosian, Gryphon, Grossman LLP, Hauser & Wirth, Prince and Wooster, and many others. Swipe for more happy faces and big swings from this terrific afternoon outing at the Rockaway Hunting Club. The Baer Faxt Invitational is our yearly charity golf tournament benefiting Avenues for Justice, the country’s first and most cost-effective Alternative to Incarceration for forty five years. Serving over 500 youth aged 13-24 from New York City each year, Avenues for Justice works to help prevent reconviction by providing access to job training, mental health services, academic assistance, and more. We at The Baer Faxt are proud to help support and sustain this important and long-running NYC community institution, and send a heartfelt thanks to all The Baer Faxt Invitational participants for their generous support. For more information on how you can help, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/eXGwqAkE Photo Credit: Mikey Ehms. #thebaerfaxtinvitational #avenuesforjustice #rockawayhuntingclub #golf #golftournament #golfbenefit #criminaljusticereform #alternativestoincarceration #art #artcollecting #artlaw #artgiving

Last week, we welcomed Reggie Chatman for the first informational session of our new, upcoming Debate workshop beginning early November.   Reggie was incarcerated for over 20 years, and several years before he was released, he was introduced to the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) by Bard College. While with BPI, he earned his undergraduate degree, was introduced to their debate team and has never looked back!   As Chatman mastered his debate skills, his team ended up welcoming the best debate teams in the country in 2018 and 2019. To the surprise of many, Chatman and his BPI teammates went on to beat Harvard and several other ivy league schools. "The debate team has since become a powerful symbol of personal redemption and penal reform. [The debate with Harvard] came amid growing momentum for prison education; earlier [that] month, a group of bipartisan senators reintroduced a bill that would restore Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated students.” (BPI) Chatman encouraged AFJ Participants to use debate as an opportunity to learn how to articulate their ideas and thoughts, while having fun with their peers. AFJ is thrilled to welcome such an inspirational facilitator like Reggie Chatman and our Participants look forward to his debate workshop next month.

As we celebrate 45 Years of Second Chances, AFJ would like to acknowledge and thank our three longest serving board members -- one of whom personally knew our Co-Founder Bob Siegal. Chair Emeritus Josh Baer, Charles Radcliffe, and Treasurer Rick Trepp, have served as Board Ambassadors for over three decades, volunteering their time to help position AFJ at the forefront of the juvenile justice field. Josh, Charles and Rick have helped us build partnerships in the communities we serve, secure resources to do our work and advance our mission. We are grateful for their commitment and belief in the importance of offering second chances to NYC’s youth and young adults.

Avenues for Justice Celebrates 45 Years of Second Chances at Our Annual Gala and Awards Dinner https://lnkd.in/gpUxb6tG

Avenues for Justice Continues to Expand Our HIRE Up Program with Job Readiness Workshops and Civics Programming https://lnkd.in/gi7PG8h4

Quick story: very early this morning I sent over to two trusted people the near final cut of the documentary for beloved client Avenues for Justice, Inc. (AFJ) who is celebrating 45 years. I cried. When I dug deeper into why I cried, I realized that in writing the narration for the story of AFJ, editing almost every night with ABB Video, obsessing over the smallest details, I became reconnected to something more powerful than doubt: hope. I became reconnected to something more powerful than fear: faith. My tears were filled with release and renewal where joy resides. For me, AFJ, their founders, board, and staff represent the best of us. They serve as a clear reminder of what happens when you live your life in the spirit to serve, everything eventually works itself out. In the weeks ahead the documentary will be released, and you may see the trailer but for now, I invite you to get to know the AFJ story and even more importantly their indisputable results. You may do so by watching this video: https://lnkd.in/gHrrZa9w. So today, here’s to courage, second chances, and living a life for others. #avenuesforjustice #eventagency #storyteller #documentary

It was powerful to join Youth Justice Network and Avenues for Justice, Inc., which are working to strengthen community over criminalization for young people, hearing from their members about their concerns and questions for the city's future. Youth matter in creating a just vision for NYC.

Here Is An Update On Avenues for Justice’s 2024 Second Chance Award Recipient: Malik Rainey https://lnkd.in/grdyJVki

Our AFJ Village Is Growing As We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month https://lnkd.in/g_8fNxDg