Avenues for Justice
100 Centre Street, Room 1541
New York, NY 10013
info@avenuesforjustice.org
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On the basketball court, you quickly learn that showing up is everything—it’s about accountability. You learn that a team is always counting on you to be there. You experience what it feels like when coaches see your true potential long before you recognize it yourself. And perhaps most importantly, you realize that when you hit the hardwood and fall, you’re never down for long—there is always a teammate reaching out a hand to pull you back up.
Join us on October 14th at Tribeca 360 for our 2026 Impact Awards Dinner to celebrate the people who show up for young people and help turn potential into possibility. Among our honorees are two people who carry that spirit off the court: Jily Bonilla, an Avenues for Justice (AFJ) Program Graduate building her future, and James Cadogan, Executive Director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition.
For Jily and James, basketball is part of the story. So is a shared belief in what people can achieve when someone sees their potential and helps open a door.
Jily Bonilla credits basketball with teaching her discipline and determination. She brought that same drive to AFJ in 2023, becoming one of our most engaged Participants and a leader among her peers. Today she's working, pursuing higher education and dreaming bigger.
"One of my dreams is to open up a business, someplace where I can employ my loved ones. The people I know are so smart, they are so capable. If they just got an opportunity, they could achieve so much."
As Executive Director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, James brings the NBA community's reach to criminal justice reform, community safety, and voting access, including a national case for fair youth justice and alternatives to incarceration.
James will receive the Andrew Glover Justice Award, named for the late NYPD Officer for whom AFJ was originally named. His work, and ours, asks the same question: how do we give every young person the belonging and belief that a path forward exists for them?
“Investing in young people means recognizing their potential and ensuring they have the chance and support to build brighter futures. I’m honored that the NBA family’s work is being recognized by Avenues for Justice, whose commitment to serving tomorrow’s leaders reflects our shared belief in the power of opportunity.”
We’ll also honor Rick Trepp, AFJ’s dedicated Board Treasurer of 17 years and a longtime youth justice advocate. His leadership and commitment have helped sustain the work that makes stories like Jily’s possible.
Guiding us through the evening will be our MC, Brian Buckmire, an ABC News legal contributor, NYC public defender, and host at the Law & Crime Network.
