Avenues for Justice’s HIRE Up Guest Speaker Series: What Do Two Returning Citizens and A Former NYPD Sergeant Have In Common? Their Stories of Redemption.

Each week at Avenues for Justice (AFJ), we create pathways to connect our Participants with private sector mentors and resources for job readiness, mental health treatment, and academic support. As we close out July, our Harlem and Lower East Side (LES) community centers have been bustling with HIRE Up programming featuring three guest speakers whose journeys mirror obstacles that many of our youth are currently facing.

From Behind Bars to Behind the Bench: A Discussion About Resilience with Hon. Judge Angel Cruz

At AFJ, we believe that where a young person starts off in life does not have to be the deciding factor of where their final stop will be. Led by AFJ’s Leadership Council, Participants welcomed Bronx County Civil Court Judge Angel Cruz at our Harlem community center last week. Hon. Judge Cruz’s story reflects the challenges that many of our Participants are confronted with as they navigate the criminal justice system. In his opening remarks, Judge Cruz shared that he was born and raised in the Bronx and was a juvenile delinquent, getting arrested for burglary as a 13-year-old, and again in 1981 for chain snatching. After being released, he was incarcerated for attempted murder during a robbery in 1982 at the age of 17.

While serving time, he made a life-changing decision to study law and ended up representing himself in an appeals court, where he was resentenced to time-served and released. Judge Cruz went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, followed by a Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law—accomplishments which showcase his fueled passion for law and public service. His 2024 election, to a newly created seat aimed at addressing the Family Court's backlog, is a testament to his ability to navigate his own legal challenges, along with his dedication to providing second chances to his community. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Cruz was in private practice focusing on criminal defense and ballot access cases. Right after graduating law school, Judge Cruz was a court attorney at Bronx Supreme and later the Appellate Term First Department.

The event opened with AFJ’s Leadership Council Participants reciting poetry. Drawing from his own lived experience as a justice-involved youth, who served a significant prison sentence starting at the age of 16, AFJ Court Advocate Messiah read a poem that he wrote while he was incarcerated. In his poem, Messiah reflected on poor decisions that he made as a teenager which led to his incarceration. Messiah’s personal journey allows him to empathize deeply with the struggles of our Participants and offer mentorship that is both meaningful and personal.

The poetry readings set the stage for Judge Cruz, who asked attendees to rearrange their seats to form a circle to invoke a feeling of equality and kinship. During the candid conversation, Judge Cruz emphasized the importance of self-belief and self-forgiveness. He reminded our Participants that to achieve their goals, they must first accept their past, and more importantly, forgive themselves for their mistakes. Judge Cruz had to move past his own self-doubts and the condemnation of people who doubted that he could make something of himself after incarceration. He shared that his vision for his future fueled him to not allow his inmate number to stigmatize him for life.

“You are not defined by what people think of you or what box they put you in. It took a tremendous amount of strength for me to think more about myself than what society thought of me. I want you all to channel your own strength to believe in what’s possible for you.” ~Bronx County Civil Court Judge Angel Cruz

Hearing from someone who was once where many of our youth now stand, and who has gone on to achieve so much, was a powerful reminder that with resilience, determination, and a second chance, transformation is possible.

Resilience & Success: Empowering Participants with Real-Life Stories from Coss Marte and Johnny Marines

Coss Marte, founder and CEO of CONBODY and CONBUD, grew up on the Lower East Side during the early ‘90s, at a time when poverty and drugs in the neighborhood were ubiquitous. To make money, he began selling drugs, and at the age of 19, he was arrested and sentenced to seven years for a drug conviction. Coss was physically unfit, and while incarcerated, he quickly realized that if he did not change his lifestyle, he would die at a young age.

Behind bars, Coss dedicated himself to working out using what he had available: his prison cell and body weight. In six months, he lost 70 pounds and taught his workouts to 20 other inmates, helping them to collectively lose more than 1,000 pounds. With a new fitness routine and outlook on life, Coss developed his first business plan and launched CONBODY when he was released.

CONBODY is a prison-style fitness bootcamp program that has served over 25,000 clients and employed more than 70 people, many of whom are returning citizens. After New York legalized cannabis in 2022, an additional law was passed that allowed those with past cannabis convictions to apply for dispensary licenses. Coss seized the opportunity to expand his mission with CONBUD, a dispensary focused on creating second chances and challenging stigmas.

Lower East Side native Johnny Marines is a former NYPD Sergeant and current music executive who has been making waves in the music industry for over a decade. Growing up a few blocks from AFJ’s flagship community center on Avenue B (co-named “Avenues for Justice Way”), Johnny was exposed to drugs and addiction early on in life. Not wanting to become a statistic prompted him to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a police officer. In 1993, he joined the NYPD and retired in 2009 as a Sergeant.

In the early 2000s, Johnny was hired as security detail for a Bronx bachata group, Aventura – it was here that he connected with “The King of Bachata,” Romeo Santos. In 2011, when Romeo Santos launched his solo career, Johnny was his right-hand man and manager. Together, they won many awards and launched the Latin division for Jay Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, where Santos serves as CEO and Johnny served as President.

Coss and Johnny brought an authenticity to the room as they emphasized the importance of networking to our Participants. Johnny encouraged one Participant to send him a demo of his music, and another Participant who is a rising baseball star in school to keep improving. Johnny told him that he would visit one of his high school games with a scout for the Yankees. They challenged Participants to dream big, stay committed, and never underestimate the power that one connection can have in opening a lifetime of opportunities.

“I always tell myself to just trust the process. At the worst times in my life, for some reason, if I kept going and doing the right things, I always bounced back. Even when I’m feeling negative, I know that everything will work itself out. Staying true to yourself and your vision, even when you feel like giving up, will lead you no matter how hard it gets.” ~Coss Marte

“Great things happen to people who go out and take that first step. While that’s easier said than done, you have to start believing that you are capable. It’s like walking - keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when you don’t want to. Life is very similar; even though it’s hard, you need to keep moving. Those are the times that will define you, the moments where you choose to give up or keep walking.” ~Johnny Marines

At AFJ, we understand that representation matters. Our Participants need to see and hear from people who have gone down similar roads and come out on top. When inspirational individuals like Judge Cruz, Coss Marte, and Johnny Marines speak, our Participants see what’s possible beyond the systemic barriers they face.

The stories of our guest speakers affirm that while the past may shape you, it doesn’t define you. AFJ is deeply grateful to have such amazing partners who are committed to enriching and motivating our youth. If you would like to be featured as a guest speaker to give back by sharing your story with our Participants, please email efrederick@avenuesforjustice.org