At Avenues for Justice (AFJ), our HIRE Up programming goes beyond the courtroom, fostering personal relationships between our Court Advocates and our Participants. Together, they co-author Individualized Action Plans (IAPs) that create pathways for our young people to successfully achieve their goals. AFJ services encompass case management, mentorship, paid internships, leadership development, mental health wellness, and academic support. A key focus of our HIRE Up program is to prevent future involvement with the criminal legal system, with educational attainment being a primary factor in that prevention.

Last week, we celebrated the achievements of two of our Preventive Participants, Brianna and Shania, who are preparing to study at Brooklyn College this fall after graduating from high school together.

This week, we are proud to highlight Kaylin and Naiyana, who worked diligently with their Court Advocates to check off all the boxes in their IAPs, including graduating from high school and applying for college. We had the opportunity to speak with Kaylin and Naiyana about how they are preparing for the next chapter which includes attending the Culinary Institute of America and Morgan State University.

AFJ Participant: Kaylin

Kaylin joined our program in September 2025 as a Preventive Participant after being introduced to AFJ’s Job Developer, Shantel, by a former employer. Over the past ten months, Kaylin has actively engaged in daily programming at our Lower East Side community center. She has successfully passed Digital and Financial Literacy modules and completed three AFJ paid internships, all while fulfilling her senior class graduation requirements.

“Graduating high school represents success and accomplishment. For many in my family, reaching this milestone was a challenge. At times, it felt like a dream that was out of reach. This achievement is bigger than myself; it is about legacy. During my high school graduation ceremony, I experienced an unexpected sense of peace and calm.”

In a few months, Kaylin will embark on the next chapter of her journey by attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Recently, she also celebrated her 18th birthday. Congratulations and Happy Birthday, Kaylin!

"I want to express my gratitude to Avenues for Justice for providing me with the experience, time, and support necessary to reach this point in my journey. I am excited about the opportunity to prove myself as a college student.”

~ AFJ Participant Kaylin

AFJ Participant: Naiyana

Naiyana joined AFJ in December 2025 and quickly embraced the opportunities available at our Lower East Side center, actively participating in 16 HIRE Up workshops, with an interest in our mental health programming. Just two months after joining, Naiyana collaborated with Shantel to apply for AFJ’s winter internship cohort, landing a position at East CoCo Bred, where she was re-hired for a second internship placement.

"Graduating from high school means closing this chapter of life to begin a new one. It took a lot of trials, errors, and tribulations to get through high school, especially during my senior year. Going into my last year of high school, I lost my older cousin and then almost four months later I lost my uncle. I had to overcome these hardships and emotions so I could do what I had to do.

During my graduation ceremony, I experienced a profound sense of relief and joy. While I recognize that my journey is far from over, I take pride in my ability to persevere through difficult times. I am excited to start college at Morgan State University this August, where I will be majoring in Engineering. I want to express my gratitude to Shantel and AFJ for providing young people with a second chance at life and for the support they offer, especially when it feels like no one else does.”

This summer, Naiyana is working hard to save up for the essentials she will need for her dorm room at Morgan State University. Although she feels nervous about making friends, she is excited to leave NYC for the first time in her life as she prepares to head to Maryland.

“AFJ has played a significant role in my journey by providing valuable job opportunities and support for my college education. Their assistance has helped personal growth and development within me.”

~ AFJ Participant Naiyana

The Next Chapter

Graduating high school is a significant achievement for AFJ Participants, highlighting their hard work, dedication, and resilience throughout their educational journey. Many of our Participants, including Kaylin, are among the first in their families to reach this important milestone.

To Kaylin, Naiyana, and all of our college-bound Participants in 2026: AFJ is immensely proud of your achievements. Here’s to your next chapter and the diverse careers and paths you will pursue. Congratulations!

Meet AFJ's Summer Intern!

We are excited to welcome our summer intern, Ian, to the team. Ian is a rising Junior at Brown University, majoring in history and political science. In addition to his studies, he leads Brown's first-year student advising program, serves as an editor for the Brown Undergraduate Law Review, and plays alto and tenor saxophone in the Brown University Band.

Ian has quickly integrated into our community centers, getting to know our Participants and engaging with them during our daily HIRE Up workshops. He has also contributed to enhancing AFJ's social media presence and has been involved in back-end data management tasks. As his internship progresses, Ian will learn about AFJ’s court advocacy component and our impact on the legal system by shadowing our Court Advocates. One of his favorite experiences so far has been discussing the services provided by HIRE Up workshop facilitators and creating a pamphlet for new AFJ Participants.

We look forward to having Ian as part of our team this summer!