Avenues for Justice
100 Centre Street, Room 1541
New York, NY 10013
info@avenuesforjustice.org
©Copyright 2022 Avenues for Justice. All rights reserved.
What does freedom really mean?
Lately, I've been sitting with this question. Not just as a construct, but as something deeply personal, especially after Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. It's been showing up in conversations with my team, revealing itself in organizational planning, and most recently, during a program meeting which left me asking: In what ways are we unintentionally limiting how young people define freedom?
At Avenues for Justice (AFJ), we provide a continuum of care through court advocacy, supportive services, and access to academic and employment pathways. But true freedom—the freedom to dream, to be successful, to feel safe—goes beyond programming. It demands that we create space for our youth to make mistakes and course correct, to shape their own narratives, to stand in their power, and move beyond systems that were built to penalize them.
The past two months have been filled with Participant highlights and moments of immense pride. I witnessed our young people show up for themselves and utilize AFJ services for their growth and development.
As we near the close of July, I find myself energized because the summer isn’t slowing down—it’s just burning up! We have two upcoming events that invite our community to convene with us and offer our young people a chance to connect outside of our community centers.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
AFJ’s “Summer on the Avenue” Street Fair | Thursday, August 21st
Join us outside of our 100 Avenue B flagship community center (on Avenues for Justice Way) for a community celebration of resilience and determination, our neighbors and vendors, and youth advocacy and justice.
Bear Mountain Trip | Friday, August 29th
Our annual trip is open to Participants, family, and friends to spend a day upstate basking in nature, enjoying recreational activities, and good ol’ barbecuing. Space is limited—sign up soon!
A recent newsletter I read struck a chord:
“There's a version of leadership that doesn't often make it into the headlines.
It's the kind that doesn't need loudness to command a room — just clarity. It's the kind forged in lived experience, not just credentials. It's the kind Black women have been practicing for generations — even when no one gave it a name.”
This felt too real. Showing up authentically isn’t optional; it’s necessary for the Black and Brown young people I represent and serve. I carry that truth daily, for myself, the AFJ team, and the generation ahead.
Last Friday, Tamatha Paul, Green Party Member of Parliament from New Zealand, visited us to learn about our alternative to incarceration work while she was in New York on a Parliamentary delegation trip. Joined by our District 74 Assembly Member Harvey Epstein at our Lower East Side community center, we discussed AFJ’s impact in all five boroughs and the criminal justice system citywide. She shared that New Zealand’s incarceration rates are “about ten years behind the United States, but rapidly catching up.” Her statement was alarming in that New Zealand is roughly the size of Colorado or Oregon. The consensus was that while there are a lot of things to emulate about the US, our incarceration rates are not one. The approach to justice-involved youth should always focus on #ServicesNotCells and #JobsNotJails.
Spotlight: In the Press
This summer, I've had the honor of speaking about what it means to fight for justice by leading as AFJ’s Executive Director on three podcasts:
In each episode, I delved into the intersections of criminal justice reform, funding and Black women-led leadership, redefining the limitations of what is plausible vs. what is expected, sprinkled with what is sustainable.
On my nightstand (okay, in my earbuds): Michelle Obama doesn’t regret saying ‘no’, Wild Card with Rachel Martin Podcast
This month, I switched to coffee because these uncertain times call for something stronger. But I still had some “sweetener” moments through AFJ Court Advocates Elsie Flores and Stephanie Santana. I’ve watched both grow into their roles and connect deeply with our Participants, whether through case management, mental health wellness support, or the meals they lovingly prepare at our community centers as part of our Table Talk program. Their care, mentorship, presence, and cooking are all acts of service that build trust and show our Participants that they can always count on us. They also know that they can always have some (as the kids say) bangin’ lasagna and rasta pasta prepared by Elsie and Stephanie!
The Impact Awards Dinner is Coming | "Creating a Just Future"'
On October 23, 2025, join us for the AFJ Impact Awards Dinner, an evening dedicated to honoring the people and stories that embody justice, transformation, and the vision of a more equitable tomorrow.
This year, as we gather under the theme of "Creating a Just Future," we're doing more than fundraising and enjoying plated meals in an aesthetically pleasing venue; we are deepening our collective commitment to young people's dreams and possibilities. We are celebrating their journeys and accomplishments.
2025 Honorees Include:
- Program Graduate Katherine "Kat" Estrella, Angel Rodriguez Award
- Honoree Derrick "D-Nice" Jones, Andrew Glover Justice Award
- Honoree Stephanie Burns & Turner Construction, Impact Award
- Master of Ceremony: Brian G. Buckmire, Esq.
Location: 135 W 18th Street – The Altman Building
RSVP to attend or sponsor.
Join us at the event to celebrate the second chances of our Participants and efforts that we are making to keep them out of jails and prisons!
In continued pursuit of freedom,
AFJ Executive Director
Elizabeth Frederick
