My dream for my community is for incarcerated youth to be heard and to help transform the justice system.

Juveniles 4 Justice (J4J) is designed to bring together youth returning to Philadelphia from juvenile justice placements to collaborate in creating a positive vision for their communities. J4J will recruit a diverse group of incarcerated youth from local community settings. These young people will communicate with others incarcerated throughout the city and state and then meet with local nonprofits, youth-serving agencies, lawmakers, and media to discuss their visions and plans for change.

“Youth have the ideas and inspiration to work for change…” said Jessica. “Their age, incarceration, and poverty, however, often prevent them from obtaining the resources and support they need to do so.”