AFJ Voices | When Curiosity Is Mistaken for Trouble

‍For Max, New York City has always represented possibility.

Avenues for Justice (AFJ) Participant Max has always had a strong interest in New York City’s trains and the transit system. He lights up when he talks about the old trains, subway lines, and the way he navigates the city – saying that if he can get on a train or a bus, he can find his way home. For Max, transit is not just an interest, it is part of how he knows and experiences New York City.

At 19 years old, Max works two jobs – at FedEx during the week and at a neighborhood ice cream shop on the weekends. He talks about work with pride because he believes in showing up, contributing, and creating opportunities for himself. That outlook has shaped the way he approaches life. While many young people his age are still figuring out what comes next, Max has already developed a strong work ethic. He sees New York not as a place full of barriers, but as a city full of possibilities.

Yet like many young Black and Brown people, Max has also experienced what happens when curiosity and circumstance are interpreted through a different lens. One of his earliest interactions with law enforcement stemmed from a simple interest in trains. Exploring an old railway area and taking photographs led to an arrest for trespassing. And instead of receiving a warning, he was processed through the legal system.

Later, he became involved in another incident where he describes himself as "guilty by association." Although the charges were eventually dismissed after he completed program mandates, the experience reinforced a reality that many young people know all too well: being viewed as suspicious can sometimes happen before anyone takes the time to understand who you are.

Max is clear-eyed about these experiences. He has watched people who look like him receive scrutiny for actions that often go unnoticed when committed by others. He has seen how assumptions shape outcomes. Yet he refuses to let those experiences define him.

Instead, they led him to Avenues for Justice. "AFJ is like a second family," Max says. Through our HIRE Up program, he has earned certifications in First Aid, OSHA, and CPR. He engaged in our Leadership Council, along with youth development activities. He participated in the first debate cohort, spoke before public audiences, and built relationships with mentors who remained invested in his success long after his formal program requirements ended.

His connection to the organization runs so deep that even after completing the required portion of the program, he continues to return. "They take you from where you're at," he says, "and if you let it, it will raise you higher and higher." He talks about AFJ staff members who checked in on him during difficult moments, celebrated his accomplishments, attended his high school graduation, and created spaces where young people feel genuinely valued.

Too often, conversations about young people who encounter the legal system focus exclusively on mistakes, arrests, or charges. Their strengths, talents, ambitions, and potential rarely make the headlines. Max's story reminds us that there is always more to see.

Behind the label is a young man who loves learning about transportation systems. A young worker juggling multiple jobs. A Participant who continues showing up because he wants to grow and give back. Most importantly, he is someone with hopes, goals, and a vision for his future.

Whether that future leads him to transportation, aviation, public service, or another path entirely, Max has never lacked potential. What he needs and what every young person deserves is an opportunity to be seen beyond assumptions.

At Avenues for Justice we look beyond the labels, we discover what was there all along. We experience talent, resilience, possibility, and young people who are capable of far more than the narratives society often assigns to them.