A Letter to the Matriarchs of AFJ

Women are often the quiet force holding organizations, families, and entire communities together. Even as systemic forces work against them, they rise fiercely.

For this upcoming Mother's Day, we want to honor the matriarchs of Avenues for Justice (AFJ). Not only the mothers among us, but every woman whose presence, persistence, and love have become the heartbeat of this movement as they pour back into the community.

They do not all share the same title or the same journey. But they share something deeper: a commitment to showing up, authentically and consistently, for the young people AFJ serves.

Liz leads this entire organization while also raising a teenager, and she does both with the same grounded, unwavering presence. That is not a small thing. The weight she carries, as a woman leading a justice-focused nonprofit in this city, is real, but she carries it with grace.

What stands out about Liz is how she is building with the AFJ Team. She mentors staff. She creates opportunities. She shows up for Participants the same way she shows up for her own family: intentionally and purposefully. AFJ has grown under her leadership, but more importantly, it has stayed true to its roots.

"Creating opportunities for both staff and Participants, and the way she shows up as a leader and a mom really stands out. She is a true matriarch within AFJ."

Liz, thank you for showing us what it looks like to lead from the inside out.

Before a Participant hears a word of encouragement from their Court Advocate, before they sit down in a workshop or receive any support at all, they walk through a door. And on the other side of that door is Lissette.

As a mother and a grandmother, Lissette knows what it means to make someone feel like they belong. She brings that same energy to AFJ every single day. She remembers names. She asks about their day and actually means it. She notices when something is off and offers a listening ear before anyone has to ask. For so many of our Participants, Lissette is the first person who made AFJ feel safe.

"Lissette is the first face so many of our Participants and families see when they walk through our doors, and she makes sure that face says: you are welcome here. The way she remembers names, asks about someone's day, and checks in without being asked. That is not a job function. That is love."

Lissette, you are proof that the work of welcome is one of the most powerful things we can offer. Thank you for being the heartbeat of our front door.

Shantel works tirelessly behind the scenes, never making the work about herself. She is the kind of person you feel before you fully see her. She is steadfast, attentive, and deeply committed to the young people she serves.

That kind of presence is rare, and it is exactly what so many of our Participants need. Someone who is there consistently and believes in them constantly. Shantel embodies that. She is a powerful force within this agency, and she is a matriarch in every sense of the word.

"Her presence is that of a mother: steadfast, attentive, and sincerely committed. Like so many mothers, her impact is not always loud or visible, but it is constant and essential."

Shantel, the work you do every day, seen and unseen, matters more than words can say.

Elsie is living proof of what AFJ stands for. She has walked the path our Participants are on, and she chose to come back and walk it with them. As a mother, a student, and a Court Advocate, she balances more than most people could, and she does it with care and consistency every single day.

She does not just talk about second chances. She is one. And the young people she works with see that. They see someone who made it through and did not forget where she came from.

"She's balancing school, motherhood, and still showing up fully for our Participants every day. The way she handles everything with care and consistency definitely makes her a matriarch within AFJ."

Elsie, your presence here is a gift. Thank you for choosing, again and again, to give it.

Stephanie is a mother of two, and she pours that same maternal energy into every young person she meets, both here at AFJ and everywhere her work takes her. She moves through the world with the belief that healing is possible, that resilience is real, and that every young person deserves someone in their corner who truly sees them.

She balances it all, and somehow, she keeps giving. That is the mark of a matriarch.

"She continues to pour into youth both inside and outside of AFJ. I really admire how she balances it all while still giving back so much. A true matriarch within AFJ."

Stephanie, thank you for using your voice, your story, and your heart to uplift the young people who need it most.

Julia came to this work with a powerful belief: that brain science has a real role to play in making the justice system more effective, equitable, and fair. With a background in neuroscience, she brings a depth of thinking to AFJ that gets us all thinking about ways to understand and support young people. She does not just show up to do the work. She thinks about why it matters, and how to do it better.

That thinking shows up in everything she touches. From helping build out AFJ's presence in Queens and Brooklyn to implementing the digital tracking system that keeps the organization accountable to its Participants. Julia builds things that last, and she builds them thoughtfully.

"Julia brings a kind of intentionality to this work that you do not always see. She is always thinking several steps ahead, asking the deeper questions, and making sure the systems we have in place actually serve the people we are here for."

Julia, thank you for bringing your whole mind, and your whole heart, to this work.