Joy Is Part of AFJ’s Work!

Before the week comes to an end, we want to celebrate something that is just as much a part of our work as court advocacy, legal support, diversion, and prevention: joy.

The work of justice can be serious. The conversations can be heavy because the issues facing our young people and communities are real. But at Avenues for Justice (AFJ), we also know that joy is part of the work.

It is the joy we see inside our community centers. The laughter in our workshops. The moments when our young people feel seen, supported, and celebrated. It is gathering with our community, neighbors, providers, and remembering everything there is to love about Harlem, the Lower East Side, and New York City.

And this week, we had a lot to celebrate.

Harlem: Reflection, Community + Hope

As part of Harlem Week, on Wednesday afternoon, New York State Assembly Member Jordan Wright (left) and Council Member Yusef Salaam (right) spoke with AFJ Participants about their roles in public office and their continued efforts to advance youth justice.

At our Harlem Community Center, we celebrated Harlem Week with a special afternoon of reflection.

We were honored to welcome Assembly Member Jordan Wright, Council Member Yusef Salaam and Raymond Santana Jr. of the Exonerated Five for a powerful conversation with our AFJ community.

Together, they reflected on difficult chapters in New York City's history, the work still ahead and, most importantly, what is possible for the next generation.

Their stories carry the weight of injustice, but the conversation was also filled with hope, purpose, and a clear challenge for all of us: keep building a justice system that sees the potential in our young people.

The AFJ team, along with our Participants, celebrated Harlem Week with Council Member Salaam and Raymond Santana Jr. of the Exonerated Five.

Lower East Side: We Took Over Avenues for Justice Way

The AFJ Team celebrated with Assembly Member Keith Powers after receiving a Commendation from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a Certificate of Recognition from the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul. Photo by Initiative Media.

The following day, we took the celebration downtown for our annual "Summer on the Avenue" Street Fair! We shut down the block outside our Lower East Side Community Center on Avenue B, co-named Avenues for Justice Way, filling it with everything that makes this neighborhood special: young people, families, music, food, games, Double Dutch, community resources, and a whole lot of joy.

For four hours, the block belonged to the community!

We laughed. We played. We connected with neighbors. We celebrated our young people. And we were reminded that creating safer, stronger communities is also about creating spaces where people can simply come together and experience joy.

This Is What Justice Can Look Like

Joy is part of justice, too. It reminds us what we’re working toward: stronger communities, brighter futures, and more opportunities for our young people.

This week, we felt plenty of it.