“AFJ has been a very good support system to my family and me. AFJ made sure we all had food and supplies especially when there was barely anything in the store. . I really appreciate the help especially during this pandemic.” – Maya, Avenues for Justice participant
94% of AFJ Participants are not reconvicted of a new crime within three years of enrolling in our program because we equip our Participants with the tools to succeed academically and attain employment. And while New York State pays approximately $500,000 to house a young person in the state’s juvenile facilities, it only costs $6,300 to provide a Participant with a full year of services at Avenues for Justice.
What we do: We currently serve over 400 Court-involved and At-Risk Participants annually across New York City, ages 13 - 24. Services for our Participants are provided online and onsite at AFJ’s two community centers in Harlem and the Lower East Side, and at AFJ’s headquarters inside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. Court-Involved Participants receive free court advocacy services with intensive case management. All Participants receive HIRE UP services for job readiness and certification, teen empowerment and legal rights, life skills training, mental and physical health wellness, academic/educational support and tutoring. AFJ also provides referrals to third party specialists for all Participants when needed.
To continue this work, we
need your help. For organizations like Avenues for
Justice (AFJ), we recognize that heroes come from our very own communities.
AFJ’s own hero Elsie Flores grew up in the Lower East Side with her mother who
struggled with her mental health and addiction. By the age of 16, Elsie had
been arrested multiple times and was facing one to three years for each arrest
related to drug sales. Elsie was looking at a total of nine years of
incarceration during a time when young people could be tried and sentenced as
adults. On top of the possibility of state time, Elsie learned she was
pregnant.
Thankfully, Elsie was referred to Avenues for Justice’s court advocacy program. While at AFJ, Elsie received legal support, supportive services, mentorship, and guidance. Through her own hard work and with the support of her Court Advocate, Nelson, Elsie was able to navigate the court system without having to serve time. Additionally, Elsie was able to successfully provide for her child, intern at AFJ after successfully graduating from the program and earn a Bachelor’s Degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2020.
Today, Elsie has worked as a Court Advocate at AFJ for over a decade, providing guidance to young people seeking second chances. In the fall of 2023, Elsie enrolled in the graduate school program at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. Elsie exemplifies the power of second chances and the need for our work is as important now as ever before.