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Avenues for Justice

@avenuesforjustice

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For over 47 years, AFJ has provided court advocacy and HIRE Up enrichment services to NYC's justice impacted young people, ages 13 to 24.

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What made our 2026 Impact Awards Dinner unforgettable? The people in the room.

Our Participants celebrating their growth. Our AFJ team standing beside them with pride. Our supporters committed to what comes next.

As Jily, our Angel Rodriguez Award recipient, shared: “Avenues for Justice believed in me before I fully believed in myself. And because of that, I am standing here tonight not defined by a mistake I made at 17, but proud of the person I’m becoming.”

To our sponsors, Board, partners, volunteers, staff, Participants, families, and supporters: thank you for believing in our young people and putting that belief into action.

You are justice in action. by @avenuesforjustice

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2 days ago

Avenues for Justice (AFJ) Executive Director Liz Frederick has been included in Forbes’ “5 Women to Watch Driving Innovative Solutions to Societal Challenges.”

This recognition arrives after two decades of Liz’s leadership, during which the AFJ has seen meaningful policy shifts addressing the persistent inequities that still shape how justice impacts the lives of Black and Brown young people. In this time, we’ve also seen what is possible when our youth are met with opportunity, accountability, and consistent support instead of punitive measures.

While New York City’s jail population has declined over the past 20 years, the conditions that drive system involvement for many families have not changed at the same pace. Even though mass incarceration is often framed through the lens of public safety and criminal justice policy, its effects extend far beyond the courtroom or correctional system. For more than four decades, AFJ has worked directly within this reality. We operate at the intersection of the criminal legal system, community-based support, youth development, and long-term opportunity.

This recognition is meaningful because it elevates a model of justice rooted in dignity, partnership, and sustained investment. We are proud of our team at Avenues for Justice, proud of our Participants, proud of Liz, and grateful to see this work recognized on a national platform.

Thank you to Forbes and Holly Corbett for spotlighting leaders committed to solutions that build stability and possibility. Here’s to a new month, and to continuing the work ahead!

Read the full piece on our website or at the link in bio!

@forbes
@hollyccorbett by @avenuesforjustice

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6 months ago

Today is Juneteenth.

As our nation marks 250 years of America, Juneteenth reminds us that freedom has never been experienced equally by all. Understanding that history is essential if we are serious about creating pathways to opportunity for our young people.

Earlier this week, @avenuesforjustice brought together community leaders, elected officials, faith leaders, and young people for a conversation about leadership, fatherhood, service, and hope. It was a powerful reminder that change happens when communities invest in the next generation.

One of our organizational partners emailed us following our Juneteenth Father’s Day Panel to share that the “MIC drop” moment came from a conversation with AFJ Participant, Donald. They shared how when asked what he liked most about coming to Avenues for Justice, his reply was “They make me feel loved.”

For our young people, feeling seen----being recognized and understood for who they truly are---is often the foundation for feeling loved.

Happy Juneteenth!

📸: @dezirae.b by @avenuesforjustice

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4 months ago

October is Youth Justice Action Month. This month, and every day, Avenues for Justice works to make sure young people have the support, resources, and opportunities to build brighter futures.

Tomorrow at our annual Impact Awards Dinner, we’re honored to celebrate three champions of youth justice:

- James Cadogan, Executive Director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, recipient of the Andrew Glover Justice Award,

- Rick Trepp, Impact Awards Honoree, who has served as our Board Treasurer for 17 years, and

- Jily, AFJ program graduate, recipient of the Angel Rodriguez Award for her dedication and hard work

Youth justice takes a village, and we can’t wait to celebrate these honorees together. See you tomorrow!

#YouthJusticeActionMonth by @avenuesforjustice

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5 days ago

In honor of #HispanicHeritageMonth, George Evageliou hosted a truly special Founder’s Club evening as we welcomed back Avenues for Justice Co-Founder, Angel Rodriguez, to our flagship Lower East Side community center.

Angel spoke to a packed room of Participants about the history of AFJ—which he co-founder close to five decades ago alongside the late Robert Siegal (initially as the Andrew Glover Youth Program). After Robert’s tragic passing in 1978, Angel took the reins as Executive Director, dedicating his life to our mission until his retirement in 2024 when Liz Frederick succeeded him, carrying his legacy forward.

While Angel’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of AFJ, almost all the young people in attendance yesterday have joined us since his retirement. This created an incredible, full-circle moment—bridging the history of the space they now share with a powerful history lesson straight from the source.

We are endlessly grateful to Angel for coming back to where the story began and inspiring a whole new generation of NYC youth and young adults! by @avenuesforjustice

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12 days ago

Today marks the start of Youth Justice Action Month, a time to ask: What could youth justice look like if opportunity, support, and community came first?

This month, we’ll be highlighting how we work toward that answer every day. Here are just a few of the ways we support youth justice.

Head to our stories to learn more and catch this week’s newsletter.

#YouthJusticeActionMonth #YouthJustice #AvenuesForJustice #JusticeReform #CommunityBasedSolutions #OpportunityForYouth by @avenuesforjustice

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17 days ago

What happens when a room full of people comes together for youth justice?

At our Impact Awards Dinner, we’ll celebrate what’s possible when young people have people in their corner—and the doors we can open together.
Join us on Wednesday, October 14, at Tribeca 360 in New York City.

Comment JUSTICE and we’ll DM you a direct link to tickets.

📸: @naturalexpressionsny taken in Tribeca Rooftop + 360 by @avenuesforjustice

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20 days ago

When Carlique walked through AFJ’s doors in February, our team immediately knew he was a special young man. Today, at 22 years old, he is proving everyone right every single day.

In just a few short months, Carlique has built an incredible launchpad for his future:

🛠️ 60+ Workshops attended since February
📜 OSHA-30 Certified & holds multiple digital literacy certifications
💼 Paid Internship Graduate through AFJ’s HIRE Up program
🌱 Full-Time Employment currently working with The @thehort

Carlique hasn’t just focused on his own growth—he has established himself as a true leader and a source of inspiration for his peers. Looking ahead, Carlique is exploring a future in youth development and Alternative-to-Incarceration (ATI) work once his legal matter is resolved. We have no doubt he will continue to change lives and shape a safer, brighter community.

Join us in celebrating Carlique’s hard work, resilience, and leadership in the comments below!

LINK IN BIO to read his full story! by @avenuesforjustice

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23 days ago

With the conversation and pressure surrounding organizations moving away from DEI language, there is growing concern among nonprofits about what these changes could mean for the communities they serve. The language organizations use can shape trust, public perception, and ultimately influence how those communities are represented and treated by the media, politicians, and the public.

Liz Frederick from @avenuesforjustice recently shared her stance with @npquarterly discussing the issue, noting that the push to move away from language identifying people as Black and Brown “isn’t just a change in terminology. It erases part of the story,” when referring to AFJ participants.

Read the full feature at the link in our bio! taken in New York, New York by @avenuesforjustice

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25 days ago

Last week, AFJ had the privilege of presenting at two incredible community events! These opportunities allowed us to broaden our reach to NYC’s young people and strengthen vital networks with our peers.

Photos 1-2: AFJ’s Executive Director Liz Fredrick was joined by Court Advocate Elsie Flores and Workshop Facilitator Dr. Dennis Ibude to present at the Robin Hood Teen Council, where high schoolers gather one Friday a month to talk with nonprofit, business, and government leaders about the issues shaping NYC. Our team was unbelievably inspired by the curiosity, engagement, and thoughtfulness exhibited by the group. They were willing to challenge ideas about what youth justice can look like, interrogative of our work, and eager to get involved.

Photos 3-4: Court Advocate Ricky Forde, Job Developer Shantel Brooks, and Chief Program Officer Gamal Willis tabled and networked at the Boys Club of New York (BCNY) Conference: The Right to Childhood! This one-day, in-person event celebrated 150 years of brotherhood, youth work, and community. Bridging theory, policy, and practice, this convening explored “The Right to Childhood.” Through tabling efforts and moderated panels, the conference brought together partners in the community who had been working in youth spaces for decades to share success stories, learning experiences, and more!

Huge thanks to Robin Hood and BCNY for allowing Avenues for Justice to share our youth justice expertise with the next generation of leaders! Our work across NYC continues to grow, proving that AFJ’s impact reaches far beyond the walls of our courthouse officers or community centers. We are out in the city every day, changing lives and expanding what’s possible for our Participants.

@robinhoodnyc
@boysclubny by @avenuesforjustice

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a month ago

What can AFJ teach the world about youth justice?

That question was at the center of a recent visit to our LES Community Center by Catherine Ardagh TD, Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, where she oversees Youth Justice.

Minister Ardagh, along with a delegation from the Consulate General of Ireland in New York, spent time learning about AFJ’s approach to diversion, court advocacy and the long-term support we provide young people beyond the courtroom. One highlight of the visit was hearing directly from AFJ Participant Donald, who shared about what first brought him to AFJ as part of our preventive programming to where he is today. Donald’s story is living proof of our work in action.

@cardagh501
@irelandnyc
@keithpowersnyc
@dept_justice_ireland by @avenuesforjustice

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a month ago

Last week, AFJ welcomed special guest, Darryl Epps Jr., to our Youth Empowerment workshop, hosted by AFJ Facilitator Dr. Dennis Ibude.

Currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Office of Higher Education in Prison for the State University of New York (SUNY) system, Darryl shared a deeply inspiring narrative of resilience and transformation. Having been incarcerated at a young age, he openly discussed how early trauma from contact with the justice system shaped his youth. However, Darryl refused to let his past mistakes or his time behind bars define his future. Instead, he channeled his focus into academics, ultimately graduating from Cornell’s Prison Education Program (CPEP). Following his release, Darryl dedicated his career to advocacy and education, holding impactful roles at The Fortune Society and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice before stepping into his current leadership position at SUNY. Our Participants were entirely captivated by his journey. While his presentation carried immense emotional weight, Darryl’s approachable and relatable presence deeply resonated with the audience.

@drdennisibude
@teachemotions
@sunyhep
@cornellprisonreform by @avenuesforjustice

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a month ago