Avenues for Justice Hosts Acclaimed Writer and Poet, Clint Smith, at Our Harlem Community Center

Each week, Avenues for Justice (AFJ) provides our Participants with pathways toward long-term employment, along with resources for job readiness, mental health wellness, and academic support. This week, we hosted art therapy sessions at both of our community centers, kicked off our Fall cohort for OSHA-30 certification training, and started our five-day paid internship job readiness training. We would like to highlight two powerful events that took place at our Harlem community center, designed to expand what our Participants see as possible for their futures.

‍Guest Speaker: Clint Smith - Writer, Poet, Scholar

On Monday, Participants in AFJ’s Leadership Council led a powerful discussion with author, poet, and scholar Clint Smith about his award-winning book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, recently adapted for young readers. AFJ’s Teen Empowerment Facilitator, Dr. Dennis Ibude, moderated the discussion. Participants listened intently as Smith shared his personal story from his upbringing in New Orleans, to his relocation to Texas after Hurricane Katrina, and his journey to becoming an author. As a father, understanding the importance of connecting to young people, Smith framed history in ways that connected directly to our Participants’ own lives. Despite tackling complex academic topics, his ability to contextualize the subject matter within the experiences of our young adults made the conversation deeply engaging.

As Participants began to see themselves reflected in Smith’s story, they asked questions about his path to authorship. The discussion revealed how several AFJ Participants had never learned about the history of slavery in America in their schools. Several Participants noted feeling disconnected from their history classes and wished their curriculum could be as engaging as Smith’s book. One story left everyone in the room–Participants and staff alike–in awe. Smith shared how the Statue of Liberty was originally designed by French abolitionists as a Black woman with broken chains to symbolize the freedom brought by the abolition of slavery following the Civil War. Subsequent changes made the symbolism more generic, replacing the chains with a torch, though you can still see broken chains at her feet from overhead. This revelation highlighted how much Black American history goes untold in our educational system. Following the conversation, each Participant received a signed copy of How the World is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America and the opportunity to share personal remarks with him.

"There’s a notion that people in high-caliber places are not similar to us. But the reality is that they go through struggles, and they have their own stories of hardships. Exposure gives our Participants a first-hand look at what might be possible for them. At AFJ, we want to facilitate as much positive exposure as possible.” AFJ’s Teen Empowerment and Leadership Council Facilitator Dennis Ibude.

“Smith’s humility and humbleness created an atmosphere where all of us in attendance were hanging on his every word and leaning in to learn about the symbolism around our country’s historical landmarks.” ~AFJ’s Executive Director Liz Frederick

Financial Literacy: Intro to Banking - Setting Goals and Standards

Later that same afternoon, inspired by feedback from previous internship cohorts, AFJ’s Job Developer, Shantel Brooks, partnered with JPMorgan Chase’s Harlem branch to host a financial literacy “Intro to Banking” workshop. This year, one consistent request from Participants has been to learn more about saving, investing, and budgeting.

While the workshop was required for the upcoming fall internship cohort, it attracted additional Participants who joined voluntarily. The JPMorgan Chase Community Manager presented relatable scenarios featuring people around our Participants’ ages and income levels. The group discussed what habits they would need to personally change to save money effectively. AFJ Participants also discussed ways to attain their personal financial goals.

The Power of Exposure

Monday’s programming at our Harlem community center demonstrated what’s possible when we bring professionals in community with AFJ Participants. While court advocacy and securing favorable outcomes for court-involved youth remains our core work at AFJ, we know the real tests come the day after that favorable outcome.

By exposing our Participants to renowned people like Clint Smith and banking professionals who want to share their expertise, we help create a roadmap for successful next steps for our Participants. Many careers and life trajectories can seem out of reach without the proper exposure. At AFJ, we’re committed to showing our Participants that success is not only possible–it’s within their reach.

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