A Moment of Duality: Reflection and Gratitude By AFJ’s Executive Director, Liz Frederick

This week, I attended a court hearing for one of our AFJ Participants, along with AFJ Court Advocate, Jalil, and AFJ Manager of Court Advocacy and Outreach, Brian. A young man full of grit, determination, hope, and tenacity. But more importantly, he was well on his way to course correcting after a series of legal setbacks.

An uplifting and energetic presence at our community center; always showing up with the most infectious smile. All until last Fall. One fateful incident, well beyond his control, landed him semi-paralyzed in detention at Rikers. As he was produced for the court hearing, rolled out in a wheelchair by a Court Officer, I was overcome with emotion. A pain which cut deep into my core. I didn’t recognize the 18-year-old who sat before the Youth Part Judge. This was not the young man who used to show up faithfully at our center, actively participating in our HIRE Up workshops.

Honorable Judge (ret.) Cheryl Pollak joined us for our Participant’s court appearance to see Avenues for Justice’s court advocacy component in action. She instantly understood the anguish that we were all feeling and sent me a very touching email afterwards thanking us “for allowing me to meet your amazing team members, Brian and Jalil.  While structure and programming is critical to all ATI programs, the true key to success (in my view) is having the right people who are able to connect with the Participants, support them, especially when their families are unable to do it, and guide them in the right path.  I was so impressed with the empathy and dedication that you and your team showed toward that young man. It is heartbreaking to contemplate that at only 18, he is certainly going to spend the next few years in custody.  But I like to think that….he will remember the assistance and guidance you gave him and ask for help at the reentry stage.”

This is the difficult side of our work that can never be accurately conveyed on paper. Nor in a blog like this. The part of our work which weighs heavily on us but never deters us. Yes, AFJ uses data for metrics, but the significant challenges our young people face cannot be measured by numbers. Our young people are human beings. They are up against systemic barriers as they battle trauma. One, two, three setbacks DOES NOT and should not equate to failure.

This week has also been a reminder of how amazing my team is at AFJ: Always present, always supportive, always accountable, always innovative. What we do is Justice In Action. Gamal, Brian, Nelson, Elsie, Wes, Shantel, Jalil, Julia, Messiah, Stephanie, Edison, and Lissette---thank you for committing to rewriting the justice back in the injustices confronting our youth and young adults.

To Angel Rodriguez, our trailblazing Co-Founder, we proudly carry on your legacy. Building on your grassroots vision which started 50 years ago in the Lower East Side and is now transforming lives in all five boroughs. One day at a time, one young life at a time.

In Reflection,

Elizabeth (Liz) Frederick
Executive Director