AFJ’s Tea with the ED: Celebrating Caregiving, Community & Courage

When people ask what drives me to lead with my whole heart, I think about my 13-year-old daughter, Bella. Her resilience, curiosity, and constant "what are your thoughts on this" inspire everything I do. I also think of the countless mothers, guardians, and community members who carry so much while holding space for others. I’m especially moved by the mothers on our AFJ team, who balance parenthood while supporting our Participants like family. And I hold deep respect for the women within our Participant community, who are raising children while navigating their own growth and transformation. The strength reminds me daily of the power of community and the importance of lifting each other up.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the intersections of caregiving, community-building, and the very real challenges we face today. While parenting, I’m also in meetings, fighting for the resources our programs need—especially in the face of budget cuts to youth services and criminal justice organizations. One week, I found myself caring for a sick teenager, making sure homework assignments were being completed, while preparing for a board meeting and managing tight deadlines. This is the invisible labor women carry as mothers, caregivers, and leaders. That’s why I’m doubling down on transparency, truth-telling, and staying grounded in the real stories behind our work.

This afternoon, I’m looking forward to our intimate Mother’s Day celebration at our Harlem community center, organized by Court Advocates Elsie and Jalil, to honor the incredible mothers who make up the AFJ community.

What You Might Not Know About Me

• I am an avid documentary watcher. I recently shared my watchlist with a former AFJ board member. We had a heartfelt text exchange over the powerful Netflix documentary "Daughters" which follows four young girls and their fathers, who are incarcerated. We witness their journey preparing for a Daddy-Daughter Dance. This program is part of Girls For A Change's initiative, designed to bridge the gap between incarcerated fathers and their children.

• Currently on my nightstand (via audiobook): Unrig the Game by Vanessa Daniel

In the Press / In the Community

From courtrooms to criminal justice stakeholder meetings to forums on budget cuts for justice-impacted youth, AFJ is showing up. We’re deepening our impact daily in all five boroughs.

• In March, I had the honor of speaking at a NEXUS salon dinner alongside two other leaders in youth development. As I spoke, I felt my late mother’s presence–her unwavering belief that every young person deserves grace and guidance. Joyce’s legacy lives on in the way I lead with care, courage, and community at the core.

That evening, I shared the real stories of our Participants—who they are, what they’re going through, and why our work matters. Inspired by our impact, one attendee reached out afterwards to explore internship opportunities for our young people. That’s the power of presence and storytelling.

This Month at AFJ: Pride and Inspiration

The AFJ team and I have been hard at work building a more just future. And this month, like so many others, reminded me that the most meaningful wins often live in quiet, in-between moments.

AFJ recently hosted a job readiness event with the New York Junior League (NYJL) at our Harlem community center. Participants received real-time resume feedback and practiced job interviews. They stepped into those rooms, nervous but prepared, serious yet hopeful. It reminded us that our investment in youth is not just about employment, it’s about affirming their stories, their talents, and their purpose.

That same commitment shows up in the everyday. Before each internship cohort, Participants complete our 8-day job readiness workshop with Job Developer Shantel and Court Advocate Julia. Our Development Manager, Coniqua and I observed the latest cohort tackle conflict resolution with humor, honesty, and authenticity.

Sometimes, it’s just a small moment—like being recognized by a mother at our Lower East Side community center, not for my title, but for a sincere conversation we once shared bagging up Thanksgiving trimmings. These are the quiet wins. These are the reasons we do this work.

• There’s Donald, proudly showing his mom our latest newsletter featuring his progress. She was at our Harlem community center last Thursday to watch him at our weekly debate workshop, beaming with pride.
• Max shared with me how confident he felt after an interview at a museum. The pride in his voice said everything.
• Even with a physics exam that night, Anyea attended our job readiness event with the NYJL, determined to grow professionally and excel academically.
• Then there’s Jaelani who showed up for tutoring despite not feeling well. That kind of consistency is powerful!

These moments, big and small, fuel my fire and our collective commitment.

I also draw from the camaraderie I’ve found in mentorship and peer spaces, especially as a member of the 2024–25 Robin Hood New ED/CEO Peer Learning Group. Since September, we’ve been diving deep into everything from fundraising to sustainable leadership. As we wrapped our final session last month, I reflected on the wisdom shared in the breakfast chats. It’s been comforting to know that there are others navigating similar terrains, and I get to do this work with a strong village.

Hot Takes + Real Talk: Fundraising in a Shifting Landscape

Let’s be real, it’s only May, and this year has already brought in its fair share of challenges.

At a recent convening of fundraisers, someone shared a sobering thought: “Foundations have told us they may need to shift funding toward groups directly impacted by federal cuts. That feels like a secondary cut to us.”

Another person went on to say: “We’re seeing less investment in justice-related programs because people think the crisis has passed.”

This hit home. Even if we’re not the first to feel the blow, the ripple effects land hard in the communities we serve. The truth is: our youth and young adults still face unjust rates of arrest. Our families are still navigating broken systems. The work hasn’t gotten easier—it’s gotten more urgent.

But we press forward. I’m in constant dialogue with our Development team and Board, strategizing, pivoting, and boldly telling our story because we know the value of what we do. And we’re not stopping.

The Sweetener (or Splenda) in My Tea

In April, I had lunch with one of our foundation Program Officers. Not to talk about grants, renewals, or benchmarks, but to talk about life. We chatted about careers, raising kids (and the reality of them going off to college in a few years), politics, our octogenarian fathers, and the beautiful chaos of adulting.

It was refreshing to connect outside the usual cadence of meetings and emails. They wanted to check in on me, the woman behind the work. After lunch, we strolled through Midtown, dodging tourists, soaking in the moment, and enjoying the Spring weather. That simple act of seeing each other beyond our roles meant something. It reminded me that the relationships sustaining this work are not transactional; they’re human.

Parting Sip

At AFJ, we’re not just offering alternatives to incarceration. We’re building futures. We’re guiding young people to rise, lead, and thrive.

The work is bigger than any one of us. It’s about all of us.

Each month, I’ll continue to share the highs, lows, and everything in between in “Tea With the ED”. But this isn’t just a space to reflect. It’s our space to connect, act, and keep showing up for the young people we serve.

Your support makes all of this possible, and it’s what keeps us moving forward.

Happy Mother’s Day!

With sincerity,

Want to get involved? Donate, volunteer, or forward this newsletter to someone who should know about the work AFJ is doing to make NYC safer for everyone. Email me at efrederick@avenuesforjustice.org to set up a site visit to see our court advocacy component in action or to grab a cup of tea with me.