AFJ's Tea with the ED: What Will It Take to Build a Just Future?

ED's Note: Behind the Scenes at AFJ

Avenues for Justice (AFJ) recently celebrated our annual Impact Awards Dinner where the theme was: Creating a More Just Future. The energy in the room was a collective commitment to creating pathways for young people across New York City. After hearing from our honorees, including Derrick “D-Nice” Jones, Stephanie Burns from Turner Construction, and AFJ Alum Kat Estrella, I was left wondering what it will take to create the future that we know our Participants and the communities we serve need. What does justice in action look like, especially today, and what role should AFJ play?

Still Feeling the Glow from the 2025 Impact Awards

This year, AFJ celebrated our Impact Awards Dinner on October 23rd at The Altman Building. I am still feeling the glow from this unforgettable evening that celebrated possibility, purpose, and the power of community. The event is more than a single night of celebration. It is a gathering of purpose. Each year, this event brings people together to co-create an act of service in honor of our Participants and Honorees who share a commitment to our mission.

Here are some of my personal highlights that have kept me motivated and inspired following the event:

A full circle moment: One of the most meaningful moments was the presentation of this year’s Angel Rodriguez Award to Katherine “Kat” Estella, who was once an AFJ Participant. Now, she lives in her first apartment and is enrolled in John Jay College’s Pre-College Program with plans to major in Business. She also provides guidance and mentorship to current AFJ Participants as they embark on their own journeys. And our Co-Founder, Angel Rodriguez, was there to present the award to Kat, making the moment truly special. ‍

‍Champions of change. Our Honorees, including Stephanie Burns from Turner Construction and mental health advocate Derrick “D-Nice” Jones, reminded us how shared purpose, commitment and partnership can help to create opportunities that change the lives of AFJ Participants.
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Community in action. The evening’s pledges raised vital funds to help more young people access AFJ’s life-changing programs in the year ahead, which is proof that when we invest in potential, everyone wins!

As we move into the final months of the year, we invite you to join us in this work. Whether through a donation, a partnership, or simply sharing AFJ’s mission, your support ensures that every young person we serve continues to be seen, supported, and given the chance to thrive.

It’s not too late to make an impact.

 This Month at AFJ: What We’re Proud Of

As we near the end of the year, we have spent some time reflecting on our impact. Here are some highlights from 2025 so far:

• In 2025, AFJ served 544 Court-Involved and Preventive Participants representing 46 of NYC’s 51 Council Districts. We welcomed 174 new Court-Involved Participants into our community.
• Through our HIRE Up initiative, Participants gained access to job readiness events and mentorship from leading corporate partners, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, City National Bank, Rothschild & Co, and BlackRock.
• AFJ hosted 29 workshops and training sessions, reaching 407 Participants across 167 total sessions covering digital and financial literacy, teen empowerment, legal rights, mental health wellness, job readiness, and workforce development.
• In September 2025, AFJ launched a 12-week Group Therapy Cohort for 12 Participants, led by a licensed psychotherapist from Muse & Grace, focused on interpersonal skills, emotional resilience, and leadership development.
• AFJ’s Paid Internship Program empowers young people, ages 16–22, primarily from the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, and includes ATI, Diversion, and CCA Participants. The 8-week initiative offers paid stipends of up to 15 hours per week, combining workforce experience, mentorship, and professional development.
  • Cohort 2 (Summer 2025): 15 of AFJ 16 interns completed successfully — a 94% success rate.
  • Cohort 3 (Fall 2025): Launched on October 6th, with 19 interns selected from 54 applicants. The 19 AFJ interns were placed in various positions with local BIPOC and women-owned businesses.

What’s Inspiring Me Right Now

I’m still on cloud nine from AFJ’s Impact Awards Dinner. I felt so proud hearing our Angel Rodriguez award recipient, Kat Estrella, talk about AFJ’s impact on her life and her own vision for the future of our work. It was especially important to honor our team and volunteer facilitators, including our Facilitator of the Year, Dr. Dennis Ibude, and longtime Senior Court Advocate, Nelson Valentine, with the Impact Award for Advocacy Excellence. We are deeply appreciative for all that Nelson and Dennis do for our Participants!

Hot Takes + Real Talk

This year, like many programs in the justice reform field, AFJ has had to reimagine the ways that we show up for our Participants due to the ripple effects of federal funding cuts, increased policing in our communities, and shifting priorities from corporate and philanthropic funders. While the core of our work - court advocacy and HIRE Up services - remain the same, the current climate has created new needs and exacerbated existing issues. As always, organizations like Avenues for Justice often feel the impact of shifts in the environment first and most severely.

The Nonprofit Times recently shared insights from impacted Executive Directors that deeply resonated with me. The headline sums up exactly what we all have experienced: Nonprofits Felt Federal Funding Cuts Long Before the Shutdown. Between the cuts to federal funding (which have ripple effects for state and local funding), a divestment in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and a pivot from justice as a priority, many organizations like AFJ have struggled to sustain, let alone to grow.

Our hope is that philanthropy will respond to fill the gaps left by these changes. What the sector needs now is investment in those causes that are impacted by the changes we see in the environment and those standing in the gap to meet the growing needs of our communities. Organizations and leaders also need general support which provides the ability to be nimble and responsive based on input from our Participants and from our communities. In this time, community-centered solutions will have the quickest, most effective impact, and as organizations we must center their voices and wisdom.

The Sweetener in My Tea

I recently mailed a copy of AFJ Court Advocate Stephanie’s book, Mental Health: The Battle No One Speaks On, to one of our dearest supporters, Judy.

One thing you should know about Judy is that not only does she champion each one of us at AFJ, but she takes the time to provide feedback to us every Thursday when our blogs and newsletters go out. When we don’t hear from Judy, our initial reaction is to make sure Judy is okay. Then the sigh of relief turns into a sinking feeling of “Oh, no! Judy didn’t like this week’s newsletter!!!”

Therefore, I was so pleased when Judy emailed me to say: “I received Stephanie’s book yesterday and read it right away. I cannot thank you enough for sharing this gem with me. I wish it could be distributed to every woman in every prison in America because Stephanie’s story will ring true to all of them and because they need to know they are not alone in their experiences. She shows such depth and soul. Incredible!”

Help Avenues for Justice Build a Just Future

As we approach the close of the year, a season of gratitude and giving, we hope you will consider supporting our year-end campaign and making a donation to Avenues for Justice. Help us provide services and support to court-involved youth in New York City, because we believe in the power of Second Chances. To make a gift, you can visit our website here. We appreciate your generosity.

I’d love to hear from you - share your thoughts on what it will take to build a more just future for our Participants.

E-mail me at: efrederick@avenuesforjustice.org

Elizabeth Frederick

AFJ Executive Director